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State v. Edwin Parsons
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MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT				Reporter of Decisions
Decision:1999 ME 155
Docket:Han-98-623
Argued:	October 5, 1999
Decided:	October 29, 1999


Panel:WATHEN, C.J., and CLIFFORD, RUDMAN, DANA, SAUFLEY, ALEXANDER, and
CALKINS, JJ.

STATE OF MAINE

v.

	EDWIN PARSONS

WATHEN, C.J.


	[¶1]  Defendant Edwin Parsons appeals from a judgment entered in
the Superior Court (Hancock County, Atwood, J.) following a jury verdict
convicting him of assault on a police officer in violation of 17-A M.R.S.A.
§ 752-A, assault in violation of 17-A M.R.S.A. § 207, and criminal operating
under the influence of intoxicants in violation of 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2411.{1}  On
appeal, Parsons challenges only the first of these convictions and contends
that the court erred in denying his motion to acquit on the charge of
assaulting a police officer.  Parsons argues that the evidence was insufficient
to support the conviction.  Finding no error, we affirm the judgment.
	[¶2]  The relevant facts may be summarized as follows: On March 27,
1997 in Ellsworth, Parsons was involved in a traffic accident with a State
Police Detective, Stephen Pickering.  Evidence at trial, taken in the light
most favorable to the State, indicated that the accident occurred at about
4:15 p.m. when Parsons's vehicle lightly struck Detective Pickering's
unmarked patrol car from behind.  Detective Pickering was in civilian
clothes and was transporting a friend and her grandson from the Mall to a
private residence in violation of State Police policy. 
	[¶3]  Detective Pickering activated the blue lights in his patrol car, got
out, and walked back to talk with Parsons.  When Detective Pickering
reached the driver's side window, he detected a strong smell of alcohol and
concluded that Parsons was intoxicated.  Detective Pickering identified
himself as a State Police officer, removed Parsons's keys from the truck, and
requested that Parsons produce a driver's license and a registration for the
vehicle.  Parsons refused to produce the license until after he had seen more
formal identification from Detective Pickering. 
	[¶4]  After retrieving his identification, Detective Pickering radioed
for assistance to investigate both the accident and suspected OUI.  Although
the detective's shift had ended at 4 p.m., he considered himself to be on
duty at the time of the accident because he had not yet left his car for the
evening or signed off on his radio.  He explained that he requested
assistance from the Ellsworth police because he was concerned that he
should not investigate his own accident. 
	[¶5]  Detective Pickering returned to Parsons and showed him his
State Police identification.  Parsons and the detective then walked back to
the rear of the police car where they observed minor damage on the rear
bumper.  Detective Pickering asked Parsons to lean back on the police
vehicle and wait for the Ellsworth police to arrive for an investigation of the
accident and the possible OUI.  Parsons shoved Detective Pickering away. 
Detective Pickering arrested Parsons for assault and attempted to handcuff
him, but Parsons resisted and punched the detective at least three times.  A
scuffle ensued until two civilians stopped and helped Detective Pickering
handcuff and restrain Parsons. 
	[¶6]  A jury trial was conducted and following the presentation of the
State's evidence, Parsons moved to acquit on the charge of assault on a
police officer.  See 17-A M.R.S.A. § 752-A (1)(A) (1983).{2} The motion was
denied.  At the conclusion of all the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of
guilty on all counts.  Parsons appeals the denial of his motion and alleges
there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that at the time of the
assault Detective Pickering was acting "in the performance of his official
duties" as required by Section 752-A (1)(A).  Parsons makes numerous
arguments that call into question the precise meaning of that statutory
phrase.  The crux of Parsons's argument, however, is that this phrase must
be construed to mean that a police officer is only performing official duties
when that officer acts during the hours of his assigned shift.{3}  
	[¶7]  Statutory interpretation is a matter of law.  See State v. Huntley,
676 A.2d 501, 503 (Me. 1996).  The motion to acquit presents a single legal
question, whether "after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to
the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt."  State v. Van Sickle, 434
A.2d 31, 34 (Me. 1981).  In evaluating whether there is sufficient evidence
to convict, we review the evidence as a whole, including any defense
witnesses and rebuttal witnesses, to determine if the trial court erred.  See
State v. Bridges, 413 A.2d 937, 940 n.1 (Me. 1980).  
	[¶8]  In the present case, there is sufficient evidence to support the
conviction.  The jury was instructed that it could find Detective Pickering
was acting in the performance of his official duties if, based upon an
objective analysis of all the facts in evidence, the detective was acting
"within the scope of what he was employed to do."  The evidence indicated
that when the detective was in his State Police vehicle, he was employed to
"handle any complaints that [the State Police dispatch] gives [him] or that
[he came] across on [his] own."  Detective Pickering had reason to believe
there was a possible operating under the influence violation and his
detention of Parsons pending investigation was a proper means of handling
that potential violation.  The assault occurred while Parsons was detained;
the jury could rationally conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Parsons
had assaulted an officer who was acting "in the performance of his official
duties."
	The entry is:
				Judgment affirmed.
                                                                          
Attorneys for State: 

Michael E. Povich, District Attorney
James Billings, Law Student Intern (orally)
P O Box 722
Ellsworth, ME 04605

Attorney for defendant:

Walter F. McKee, Esq., (orally)
Lipman & Katz, P.A.
P O Box 1051
Augusta, ME 04332-1051