State v. McNeill, 8112SC357

• Decision Date: 03 November 1981
• Docket Number: No. 8112SC357,8112SC357
• Citation: State v. McNeill, 283 S.E.2d 565, 54 N.C.App. 454 (N.C. App. 1981)
• Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals
• Parties: STATE of North Carolina v. Dustin McNEILL.

Page 565

283 S.E.2d 565

54 N.C.App. 454

STATE of North Carolina v.Dustin McNEILL.

No. 8112SC357.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

Nov. 3, 1981.

Atty. Gen. Rufus L. Edmisten by Asst. Atty. Gen. Daniel C. Oakley, Raleigh, for the State.

Asst. Public DefenderJohn G. Britt, Jr., Fayetteville, for defendant-appellant.

WELLS, Judge.

Defendant first assigns error to the denial of his pre-trial motion to suppress any evidence obtained as a result of his arrest on 20 August 1980.Defendant contends that there was no probable cause for his detention or arrest.Without probable cause a warrantless arrest is illegal under G.S. 15A-401(b), and as a general rule, G.S. 15A-974, evidence obtained therefrom is inadmissible.Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643, 81 S.Ct. 1684, 6 L.Ed.2d 1081(1961), Wong Sun v. U. S., 371 U.S. 471, 83 S.Ct. 407, 9 L.Ed.2d 441(1963).

The trial judge made a finding of fact that defendant's detention and arrest were supported by probable cause.This finding is conclusive on appeal if supported by competent evidence.In re Gardner, 39 N.C.App. 567, 251 S.E.2d 723(1979), State v. Blackmon, 280 N.C. 42, 185 S.E.2d 123(1971), State v. Small, 293 N.C. 646, 239 S.E.2d 429(1977).

The State's evidence adduced at the voir dire on the motion to suppress tends to show that around 11:25 p. m. on 20 August 1980, Officers Dumas and McDaniel were on patrol in a marked patrol car.Officer Dumas noticed two black males walking at a fast pace.One was carrying a television set, and the other was carrying an armful of clothing.The officers immediately turned around to investigate.The two officers then observed only the man carrying clothing, who was later identified as defendant.When the officers shined their headlights on defendant, he dropped the clothing and ran.Officer McDaniel immediately broadcast over his radio that he and Officer Dumas were "in foot pursuit of a B&E suspect wearing a red tee shirt with white lettering on the back."Officer Sweet, who was on patrol nearby, received the radio transmission from his marked patrol car and began searching the area.Almost immediately he spotted a black male who fit the description of the suspect.The man, identified as defendant, was walking on the wrong side of the road.He was breathing hard and sweating profusely.Officer Sweet pulled his vehicle in front of defendant and asked him to place his hands on the car.As he attempted to radio the other officers that he had the possible suspect, defendant ran.Officer Sweet caught and arrested defendant for obstructing and delaying his investigation.Under the circumstances, Officer Sweet had the right to detain defendant for questioning.Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889(1968), Adams v. Williams, 407 U.S. 143, 92 S.Ct. 1921, 32 L.Ed.2d 612(1972), State v. Streeter, 283 N.C. 203, 195 S.E.2d 502(1973).When defendant fled, Sweet then had probable cause to arrest him for obstructing his investigation.G.S. 14-223.State v. Rudolph, 39 N.C.App. 293, 250 S.E.2d 318(1979).There is ample evidence to support the trial judge's finding of probable cause.State v. Sadler, 40 N.C.App. 22, 251 S.E.2d 902(1979).Defendant's motion to suppress was properly denied.SeeState v. Vestal, 278 N.C. 561, 180 S.E.2d 755(1971).We overrule this assignment.

In his third assignment of error, defendant argues that the trial judge erred by summarizing the State's contentions in its jury instructions, while omitting defendant's contentions.State v. Hewett, 295 N.C. 640, 247 S.E.2d 886(1978).Although defendant presented no evidence, he had the right to have the jury instructed of his contentions raised by any favorable evidence elicited on cross-examination of a State's witness.State v. Sanders, 298 N.C. 512, 259 S.E.2d 258(1979).The only evidence for defendant was the cross-examination testimony of Officer Sweet, who testified that though he conducted a pat-down search of defendant, the stolen goods were found under the back seat of the patrol car, where defendant alone had been sitting.Since this evidence does not tend to exculpate defendant, the failure of the trial judge to discuss it did not prejudice defendant.This assignment is overruled.

Defendant's final assignment of error involves alleged error in the judgment and commitment order.Judge Wood ordered:

As to restitution or reparation as a condition of attaining work release privilege or parole, the Court recommends that the defendant pay restitution in the sum of $417.50, for benefit of Jeffery Trent...