Opinion
Docket No. 6,783.
Decided July 30, 1970.
Appeal from Wayne, John B. Swainson, J. Submitted Division 1 June 2, 1970, at Detroit. (Docket No. 6,783.) Decided July 30, 1970.
Richard Bonello was convicted of aggravated assault. Defendant appeals. Reversed and remanded.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William L. Cahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, Samuel J. Torina, Chief Appellate Lawyer, and Patricia J. Pernick, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Donald F. Welday, Jr., for defendant on appeal.
On the evening of November 21, 1965, George Wollas, defendant's cousin, was stopped by a Dearborn police officer because his car was making excessive noise. Wollas pulled into a nearby parking lot followed by the officers who asked for his driver's license and registration. The officer returned to his vehicle to write up the violation.
Defendant, who was following Wollas, also pulled into the parking lot. He inquired of his cousin what the trouble was and then approached the squad car. A fight ensued in which the officer was injured.
Defendant was charged with aggravated assault (MCLA § 750.81(a), [Stat Ann 1962 Rev § 28.276 (1)]) and found guilty by a jury. Defendant appeals the denial of his motion for a new trial alleging that a requested instruction was improperly denied and that there was not sufficient evidence to support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
At trial defendant objected to the reading of MCLA § 750.479 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.747), resisting an officer in the discharge of his duty, insisting that in addition thereto the court should have instructed on the rights of defendant when an officer unlawfully arrests.
Defendant's theory on defense was that the officer was not attempting to arrest. He also claimed that his words, at worst, were insulting and not, in and of themselves, an obstruction or resistance of an officer in the performance of his duty. Therefore, if he were arrested or the officer were attempting to arrest him, defendant had a right to resist because it was an unlawful arrest. Further, should the arrest be found legal, the officer used excessive force and defendant had a right to defend himself.
The instruction given by the trial court on the issue of excessive force was correct. However, nowhere in the instructions given did the trial judge charge the jury regarding defendant's right to resist an unlawful arrest. This was error.
A person may use such reasonable force as is necessary to resist an illegal arrest. People v. Krum (1965), 374 Mich. 356, cert. den. (1965), 381 U.S. 935 ( 85 S Ct 1765, 14 L Ed 2d 699); 5 Am Jur 2d, Arrest, § 94, pp 778-780. It is the duty of the trial court to cover in his charge to the jury in a criminal prosecution the theory upon which the defense is founded if a proper request is made and supported by competent testimony. People v. Welke (1955), 342 Mich. 164; People v. Lane (1942), 304 Mich. 29. Therefore, since it is the duty of the trial court to instruct the jury as to the law applicable to the case, MCLA § 768.29 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.1052), the refusal of the court to give a requested proper instruction is reversible error. Defendant has a right to a properly instructed jury. People v. Liggett (1967), 378 Mich. 706; People v. Barringer (1945), 311 Mich. 345; People v. Bowen (1968), 10 Mich. App. 1.
The evidence in this case was conflicting. The parties each charged that the other had used abusive language and had initiated the fight. Reviewing the record, we find there was sufficient evidence, if believed by the jury, to justify a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Weems (1969), 19 Mich. App. 553; People v. Fred W. Thomas (1967), 7 Mich. App. 519.
Reversed and remanded for new trial.