State v. Thomas

Citations

• 241 N.E.3d 368
• 2024 Ohio 1361

Syllabus

Motion to suppress R.C. 306.35(Y) plain meaning RTA officers authority jurisdiction within transit facilities Fourth Amendment Article I, Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution unreasonable searches and seizures. Affirmed. R.C. 306.35(Y) is unambiguous. Applying the plain and ordinary meaning of the statute, GCRTA officers are granted with the authority to act as peace officers within transit facilities owned, operated, or leased by the GCRTA. The plain language of R.C. 306.35(Y) does not support the interpretation proposed by the state. Furthermore, under Brown, 143 Ohio St.3d 444, 2015-Ohio-2438, 39 N.E.3d 496, ¶ 26, the GCRTA officers' attempted traffic stop on a public road for an allegedly minor misdemeanor and Thomas's subsequent arrest at her home nearly one month later was outside the GCRTA officers' statutory authority and violated the guarantee against unreasonable searches and seizures established by Article I, Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution. Therefore, the trial court properly suppressed any evidence obtained by the GCRTA police officers.