People v. Biagi , 2017 IL App (5th) 150244 ( 2017 )

Rule 23 order filed 2017 IL App (5th) 150244
October 18, 2016;
Motion to publish granted NO. 5-15-0244
January 5, 2017.
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
FIFTH DISTRICT
________________________________________________________________________
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the
) Circuit Court of
Plaintiff-Appellant, ) Marion County.
)
v. ) No. 15-DT-03
)
CHRISTOPHER BIAGI, ) Honorable
) Mark W. Stedelin,
Defendant-Appellee. ) Judge, presiding.
________________________________________________________________________
PRESIDING JUSTICE MOORE delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justice Chapman concurred in the judgment and opinion.
Justice Welch dissented, with opinion.
OPINION
¶1 The plaintiff, the People of the State of Illinois (State), appeals the April 13, 2015,
order of the circuit court of Marion County that granted the motion of the defendant,
Christopher Biagi, to suppress evidence and granted his petition to rescind the statutory
summary suspension (SSS) of his driver's license. For the following reasons, we reverse.
¶2 FACTS
¶3 On January 3, 2015, the defendant received a citation for driving under the influence,
pursuant to section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501 (West 2014)). A
confirmation of the SSS of the defendant's driving privileges was entered in the circuit court
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on January 28, 2015. The defendant filed a petition to rescind the SSS and a motion to
suppress evidence on February 6, 2015, and February 24, 2015, respectively.
¶4 A hearing was conducted on April 1, 2015. Seth Williams testified that he is
employed as a trooper with the Illinois State Police and has been so employed for over six
years. Besides basic field sobriety training, Williams completed Advanced Roadside
Impairment Driving Enforcement, a training to execute field sobriety testing, to recognize
the indicators of drug impairment, and to learn about different types of drugs and the
correlating impairment that may be shown when those drugs are used. Williams estimated
that he had conducted approximately 50 stops that involved drug impairment with no alcohol
involved.
¶5 Williams recalled that on January 3, 2015, at 12:44 a.m., he was on duty and
patrolling Red Stripe Road, which is covered with oil and chip and has no lane markings.
Williams testified that while traveling eastbound, he noticed a vehicle ahead of him that was
traveling the same direction. He noted that there were no other vehicles on the road other
than his and the one in question. Williams stated that the speed limit on Red Stripe Road is
55 miles per hour and the subject vehicle was traveling 32 miles per hour.
¶6 Williams testified that he did not activate his headlights to initiate a stop, but the
vehicle ahead of him continued to decrease its speed, partially pulled onto the shoulder, and
came to a stop at the top of a hill. Williams explained that the shoulder along Red Stripe
Road is "pretty much nonexistent" and because the subject vehicle was large, it was parked
on the shoulder only two or three feet, and the rest of it extended into the roadway.
Williams's first inclination was to pass the vehicle, but he realized that he was approaching
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the defendant's vehicle at the top of the hill and would be unable to see any westbound traffic
on the other side of the hill. He indicated that there were two driveways at the top of the hill,
either of which the driver could have pulled into but did not.
¶7 Williams then surmised that the driver–who was later discovered to be the defendant–
must be having car trouble because of the slow speed and because "nobody would stop at the
top of the hill like that." Accordingly, Williams notified dispatch that he was conducting a
motorist assist, pulled in and parked behind the vehicle, activated his takedown lights to
illuminate the area in front of him, and activated his rear-facing emergency lights to divert
any traffic that may approach from behind. Williams explained that the takedown lights are
bright LED lights–also known as fog lights–that point to the front and light up a large span
of area. He indicated that he used them only so he could see as he approached the vehicle
and that the defendant was free to pull away and leave up to the time when he made contact
with him.
¶8 Williams testified that he approached the defendant and asked him what was wrong.
The defendant replied, "Good afternoon," and handed Williams his driver's license and
insurance card. Williams indicated that he found the defendant's statement extremely odd,
given the time was 12:44 a.m. and it was unmistakably dark outside. Williams noted that the
defendant's speech was slow, he appeared slumped in his seat, and his movements were
"extremely slow and delayed for an appropriate individual." He also noticed that the
defendant's "pants were unbuttoned about half way down his thighs," which he also found
very unusual. Williams testified that at that point, he no longer deemed the situation a
3
"motorist assist," but now saw it as a traffic stop under investigation for driving under the
influence of some form of drugs, as there was no detectable smell of alcohol.
¶9 Williams testified that the defendant informed him that he and his passenger were just
out driving around and he had pulled over because "he didn't want to be pushed," meaning
that he was traveling slower than Williams and he wanted to get out of the way. Williams
testified that the defendant already had his driver's license out and offered it to Williams,
who returned to his squad car with the driver's license. After confirming the validity of the
license, Williams returned and asked the defendant to step out of the vehicle. He also
obtained identification from the defendant's passenger, who turned out to be the defendant's
wife. Williams testified that as the defendant stepped out of the vehicle, his movements
were slow and methodical. Meanwhile, an assisting officer arrived on the scene, and
Williams moved his car to the front of the defendant's vehicle because he needed a flat
surface to conduct field sobriety tests.
¶ 10 Prior to administering a horizontal gaze nystagmus test, Williams shined his flashlight
on the defendant's face. Upon doing so, Williams noticed the defendant's pupils were
dilated. Williams explained that normal pupil range in darkness is six millimeters or less and
he quickly noticed that the defendant's pupils were much larger than that, an estimated seven
to seven-and-a-half millimeters. Williams added that the defendant's pupils did not change
when the flashlight was shined in his face, but remained dilated. Williams asked the
defendant if he had consumed any form of illegal narcotics or prescription medication, and
the defendant replied that he had not. Notwithstanding the defendant's response, at the
4
conclusion of the field sobriety tests, Williams believed that he was under the influence of
something.
¶ 11 In addition to the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the defendant performed the walk-
and-turn and the one-leg stand, his performance on both of which Williams described as
"extremely bad." Williams asked the defendant's wife if the defendant had consumed any
form of narcotic or prescription medication, and she stated that he had not, but that he had
"been up for quite a while and was tired." Williams in turn asked the defendant about being
tired and the defendant responded that he had been awake since New Year's Eve, which was
approximately 48 hours prior. The defendant added that "I stay up for long periods and then
I relax." The defendant's statement alerted Williams to the possibility of amphetamine
abuse, with which Williams is quite familiar.
¶ 12 Williams testified that he arrested the defendant for driving under the influence based
on his observations of the defendant and the defendant's performance of the field sobriety
tests. Williams then searched the defendant incident to arrest and found an orange, 20
milligram amphetamine salt pill in the defendant's front pocket. He also found two other
pills that he was unable to identify.
¶ 13 Andrew Smith testified that he is employed as a trooper with the Illinois State Police
and has been so employed for four years. Smith was on duty and patrolling in Marion
County on January 3, 2015. At approximately 12:50 a.m., Smith was dispatched to the scene
to assist Williams. He confirmed that when he arrived, the defendant and Williams were
parked on a hill and the defendant had already stepped out of his vehicle and was talking to
Williams. Smith noticed that the defendant "seemed to be having a hard time focusing on
5
the directions that Trooper Williams was instructing him on. Almost as if he was struggling
for him to focus [sic]." Smith explained that "he almost had a sense of being paranoid with
quick movements of the head and looking around, eyes darting back and forth." Like
Williams, Smith did not smell any alcohol on the defendant. Smith testified that he had
completed standard field sobriety test training as well as advanced impaired driver
enforcement, which involves DUI drug enforcement. Smith concluded that the defendant
was under the influence of something, based on the fact that his ability to comprehend
instructions was "definitely out of the ordinary."
¶ 14 At the close of evidence, the circuit court took the matter under advisement and
entered an order on April 13, 2015, that granted both the motion to suppress evidence and the
petition to rescind the SSS. The State filed a motion to reconsider on May 13, 2015, which
the circuit court denied on June 17, 2015, following a hearing. The State filed a notice of
appeal on June 17, 2015, and filed a certificate of impairment on June 18, 2015. Additional
facts will be added as necessary in our analysis of the issues.
¶ 15 ANALYSIS
¶ 16 The State raises the following issues on appeal: (1) whether the circuit court erred by
granting the defendant's motion to suppress evidence and (2) whether the circuit court erred
by granting the defendant's petition to rescind the SSS of his driver's license.
¶ 17 I. Motion to Suppress Evidence
¶ 18 A. Standard of Review
¶ 19 "In reviewing a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress evidence, we apply the
two-part standard of review adopted by the Supreme Court in Ornelas v. United States
6
[citation]." People v. Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d 530, 542 (2006). "[W]e give great deference to
the trial court's factual findings, and we will reverse those findings only if they are against
the manifest weight of the evidence." Id. "A reviewing court, however, remains free to
undertake its own assessment of the facts in relation to the issues and may draw its own
conclusions when deciding what relief should be granted." Id. "Accordingly, we review de
novo the trial court's ultimate legal ruling as to whether suppression is warranted." Id.
¶ 20 B. State's Concession in the Circuit Court
¶ 21 As a threshold matter, we note that the State acknowledged in its opening brief that it
conceded in its motion to reconsider that the interaction between Williams and the defendant
was not a consensual encounter, but a community caretaking stop. The State additionally
conceded that Williams's activation of the steady white lights on his patrol car was a seizure.
Notwithstanding these concessions in the circuit court, the State now argues on appeal that
the interaction between Williams and the defendant was consensual and not a detention at all,
thereby rendering inapplicable any fourth amendment implications.
¶ 22 The defendant argues that the State is estopped from asserting this argument on appeal
because of the concessions it made below. We reject this argument because a reviewing
court is not bound by a party's concession. See People v. Horrell, 235 Ill. 2d 235, 241
(2009). Accordingly, we choose to address the State's consensual encounter argument.
¶ 23 C. Consensual Encounter
¶ 24 The State argues that the circuit court erred when it granted the defendant's motion to
suppress evidence because the encounter between Trooper Williams and the defendant was
consensual and not a seizure, thereby rendering inapplicable any fourth amendment
7
implications. "The fourth amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the 'right
of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, and against
unreasonable searches and seizures.' " People v. Gherna, 203 Ill. 2d 165, 176 (2003)
(quoting U.S. Const., amend. IV). "The burden of proving the unlawfulness of a search and
seizure on a motion to suppress rests with [the] defendant." People v. Clark, 394 Ill. App. 3d
344, 347 (2009).
¶ 25 "It is well settled that not every encounter between the police and a private citizen
results in a seizure." Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d at 544. "Courts have divided police-citizen
encounters into three tiers: (1) arrests, which must be supported by probable cause; (2) brief
investigative detentions, or 'Terry stops,' which must be supported by a reasonable,
articulable suspicion of criminal activity; and (3) encounters that involve no coercion or
detention and thus do not implicate fourth amendment interests." Id. "Third-tier encounters
are also known as consensual encounters." Id.
¶ 26 "For purposes of the fourth amendment, an individual is 'seized' when an officer 'by
means of physical force or show of authority, has in some way restrained the liberty of a
citizen.' " (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. at 550 (quoting Florida v. Bostick, 501
U.S. 429, 434 (1991)). "[T]he law clearly provides that a police officer does not violate the
fourth amendment merely by approaching a person in public to ask questions if the person is
willing to listen." Id. at 549. "Indeed, the Supreme Court has stated expressly that the police
have the right to approach citizens and ask potentially incriminating questions." Id. Taken a
step further, "the police may do more than merely ask questions without turning the
encounter into a seizure." (Emphasis added.) Id. at 551. " '[E]ven when officers have no
8
basis for suspecting a particular individual, they may generally ask questions of that
individual [citations]; ask to examine the individual's identification [citations]; and request
consent to search his or her luggage [citations]–as long as the police do not convey a
message that compliance with their requests is required.' " Id. (quoting Bostick, 501 U.S. at
434-35). "The encounter becomes a seizure only if the officer, through physical force or a
show of authority, restrains the liberty of the vehicle's occupant." Id. at 552-53.
¶ 27 "[T]he appropriate test is whether a reasonable person in [the] defendant's position
would have believed he was free to decline [the officer's] requests or otherwise terminate the
encounter." Id. at 551. "Moreover, the test presupposes a reasonable innocent person."
(Emphasis in original.) Id. "The analysis requires an objective evaluation of the police
conduct in question and does not hinge upon the subjective perception of the person
involved." Id.
¶ 28 Here, the circuit court found that "the trooper activated his 'take down' lights, being
white lights to illuminate the area, and exited his vehicle. These [a]ctions would be seen by
the [d]efendant as a command to stay put. Therefore, [the] [d]efendant was detained by the
trooper." The defendant argues that the circuit court's ruling should be affirmed because a
reasonable person in these circumstances would not have felt free to leave. We disagree
because this argument and the findings of the circuit court directly contradict established
case law.
¶ 29 In People v. Luedemann, the Illinois Supreme Court held that shining a light on a
vehicle is not a seizure where there is no coercion or a threat of coercion present. 222 Ill. 2d
at 561. The defendant attempts to distinguish Luedemann on the basis that the police officer
9
there used a flashlight, while in this case Williams used not only a flashlight, but also
activated the takedown lights to illuminate the area prior to approaching the defendant. We
find this distinction is of no consequence because Luedemann uses the terms "flashlight" and
"spotlight" synonymously. The Luedemann court reasoned: "If we adopted the *** view that
the use of a flashlight is inherently coercive and analogous to a tone of voice indicating that
compliance is compelled, that would make a seizure of any nighttime encounter in which an
officer uses a flashlight or spotlight." (Emphasis added.) 222 Ill. 2d at 563. The
Luedemann court further observed that the officer would be left "with a dilemma that we are
not prepared to require: 'an officer is not constitutionally required to choose between a
consensual encounter in the dark or turning on a spotlight and thereby effectuating a
detention that may not be supported by reasonable suspicion.' " (Emphasis added and
internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. (quoting State v. Baker, 107 P.3d 1214, 1218 (Idaho
2004)). Accordingly, Williams's use of the flashlight and takedown lights did not constitute
a seizure of the defendant without the presence of some form of coercion. See id. at 561.
¶ 30 In determining whether coercion is present–thereby resulting in a seizure–courts
examine the following factors, which were established by the United States Supreme Court
in United States v. Mendenhall, 446 U.S. 544, 554 (1980): "(1) the threatening presence of
several officers; (2) the display of a weapon by an officer; (3) some physical touching of the
person of the citizen; and (4) the use of language or tone of voice indicating that compliance
with the officer's request might be compelled." Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d at 553.
¶ 31 The Mendenhall factors "are not exhaustive and *** a seizure can be found on the
basis of other coercive police behavior that is similar." Id. at 557. For example, Luedemann
10
observed that the officer in that case did not block the defendant's parked vehicle, did not use
flashing lights as a show of authority, and did not order the defendant to place his hands on
the steering wheel. Id. at 557-58. It was only after the officer observed signs that the
defendant was under the influence that a reasonable, articulable suspicion was provided for
the subsequent seizure. Id. at 565-66.
¶ 32 Here, although the defendant references the Mendenhall factors in his brief, he
contends that he was seized because any reasonable person in his position would not have
felt free to drive away because of Williams's "physical maneuvers and show of authority." In
support of his argument, the defendant cites the following facts: Williams was in a marked
squad car, approached the defendant's vehicle from behind, and quickly closed the distance
between them; when the defendant pulled over to allow Williams to pass, Williams pulled in
behind him; Williams activated his takedown lights and rear emergency lights; Williams
exited his vehicle in full uniform with a visible weapon and his flashlight drawn; and
Williams approached the defendant's vehicle from the street side, reached out to touch the
vehicle with his right hand, then came to rest both arms on the driver's door and leaned
toward the vehicle. The defendant argues that these actions constituted a show of authority
sufficient to convince any reasonable person that he or she was not free to leave or disregard
Williams. We find this argument problematic because none of these facts point to coercive
behavior as set forth in Mendenhall and Luedemann.
¶ 33 A review of the video in the record reveals no other officers present, no display of a
weapon by Williams, no physical touching of the defendant's person by Williams, and no
language or tone of voice by Williams to indicate that compliance with Williams's request
11
was compelled. Regarding the Mendenhall factors, there must be some such evidence;
otherwise, any inoffensive contact between a citizen and a police officer cannot, as a matter
of law, constitute a seizure of the citizen. See Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d at 554. Moreover,
Williams did not block the defendant's vehicle, did not use flashing lights as a show of
authority, and did not order the defendant to place his hands on the steering wheel. See id. at
557-58.
¶ 34 The defendant attempts to distinguish Luedemann because this case does not involve a
"parked vehicle." He states in his brief that he "did not intend to park; he merely intended to
pull over momentarily to allow Williams to pass" and this was clear "from his statement to
Williams that he pulled over to get out of his way." This argument has no impact on the
applicability of Luedemann because there is no requirement that a vehicle must be parked
before being observed by the officer. Furthermore, there is no way Williams could have
possibly discerned the defendant's intent as he witnessed the defendant voluntarily pull over,
stop, and park his vehicle.
¶ 35 Next, the defendant contends that it was Williams's rate of speed that caused the
defendant to stop. Again, he cites no authority that a particular rate of speed would exclude
the applicability of Luedemann to this case. Moreover, the evidence shows that Williams
was driving at an appropriate rate of speed. The speed limit was 55 miles per hour, and the
defendant was driving 32 miles per hour. These facts indicate that it was the defendant's rate
of speed–not Williams's–that caused the distance between the two vehicles to rapidly narrow
before the defendant pulled over.
12
¶ 36 The defendant also argues that the road conditions on the night in question made
Williams's speed unreasonable and caused the defendant to stop. He states in his brief that it
was a rainy winter night, the road was unlit and unmarked with no posted speed limit, and
"the pavement itself had patchy coloration–potentially obscuring ice or pooling water."
(Emphasis added.) Again, the defendant cites no authority to support his argument that any
of these facts–one of which is entirely speculative–would have any bearing on the
applicability of Luedemann to this case. Moreover, we will not entertain any suggestion with
no supporting evidence in the record. However, even assuming, arguendo, that the road
conditions were relevant, the video in the record shows, at most, a very light drizzle,
Williams had his windshield wipers on a slow, intermittent setting, and there is no evidence
in the record to show that the road was in any way slick or hazardous that night. For these
reasons, we reject the defendant's argument regarding the road conditions.
¶ 37 In summary, there was no coercive behavior by Williams, nor any threat thereof, nor
was there any physical force or show of authority to restrain the defendant's liberty. See
Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d at 554-58. For these reasons, we find the encounter between the
defendant and Williams–prior to Williams's observation of signs that the defendant was
under the influence–was consensual and not a seizure, thereby rendering inapplicable any
fourth amendment implications. As a result, the circuit court erred by finding that a seizure
had occurred and by granting the defendant's motion to suppress evidence on that basis.
Accordingly, we reverse the portion of the circuit court's order that granted the defendant's
motion to suppress.
13
¶ 38 D. Community Caretaking Doctrine
¶ 39 Even if, arguendo, we were to exclude the consensual encounter argument because of
the concession the State made in the circuit court, the ultimate outcome is still the same
under the State's alternative argument because any assumed seizure was reasonable under the
community caretaking doctrine. The United States Supreme Court established that "local
law enforcement officers 'frequently investigate vehicle accidents in which there is no claim
of criminal liability and engage in what, for want of a better term, may be described as
community caretaking functions, totally divorced from the detection, investigation, or
acquisition of evidence relating to the violation of a criminal statute.' " People v.
McDonough, 239 Ill. 2d 260, 269 (2010) (quoting Cady v. Dombrowski, 413 U.S. 433, 441
(1973)). "[T]he community caretaking doctrine 'is analytically distinct from consensual
encounters and is invoked to validate a search or seizure as reasonable under the fourth
amendment.' " Id. at 270 (quoting Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d at 548). " 'It is not relevant to
determining whether police conduct amounted to a seizure in the first place.' " (Emphasis in
original.) Id. (quoting Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d at 548).
¶ 40 The McDonough court recognized the following challenge in applying the community
caretaking doctrine:
" 'Most people who appear to be in distress would welcome a genuine offer of
police assistance. But permitting police to search or seize whenever they might be
pursuing community-caretaking goals risks undermining constitutional protections.
The challenge of [the] community-caretaking doctrine is to permit helpful police to
fulfill their function of assisting the public, while ensuring that searches for law-
14
enforcement purposes satisfy the requirements of the Fourth Amendment.' " Id. at
272 (quoting Michael R. Dimino, Police Paternalism: Community Caretaking,
Assistance Searches, and Fourth Amendment Reasonableness, 66 Wash. & Lee L.
Rev. 1485, 1562-63 (2009)).
¶ 41 There are "two general criteria a court must find in determining whether the
community caretaker exception applies." Id. "First, law enforcement officers must be
performing some function other than the investigation of a crime." Id. "In making this
determination, a court views the officer's actions objectively." (Emphasis added.) Id.
"Second, the search or seizure must be reasonable because it was undertaken to protect the
safety of the general public." Id. " 'Reasonableness, in turn, is measured in objective terms
by examining the totality of the circumstances.' " Id. (quoting Ohio v. Robinette, 519 U.S.
33, 39 (1996)). "The court must balance a citizen's interest in going about his *** business
free from police interference against the public's interest in having police officers perform
services in addition to strictly law enforcement." Id. Community caretaking tasks include
but are not limited to "helping children find their parents, mediating noise disputes,
responding to calls about missing persons or sick neighbors, *** helping inebriates find their
way home" (id. at 269), or approaching a vehicle that is pulled over on the side of the road to
offer assistance. Id. at 273.
¶ 42 We find the facts in People v. McDonough similar to those in the instant case. In
McDonough, the defendant's vehicle was pulled over on the shoulder of a highway at night
and the officer approached the vehicle to offer assistance. Id. The court found the assumed
15
seizure reasonable because it was undertaken to protect the safety of the public. Id.
McDonough recognized that "[t]he public has a substantial interest in ensuring that police
offer assistance to motorists who may be stranded on the side of a highway, especially after
dark and in areas where assistance may not be close at hand." Id. Moreover, an "officer has
the right to make a reasonable investigation of vehicles parked along roadways to offer such
assistance as might be needed and to inquire into the physical condition of persons in
vehicles" because "[t]he occupant of a parked vehicle may be intoxicated, suffering from
sudden illness, or may be only asleep." Id. The court held that, under such circumstances,
"it is within a responsible law enforcement officer's authority to determine whether
assistance is needed." Id.
¶ 43 Applying these principles to the case at bar, we find that any alleged seizure was
reasonable under the community caretaking doctrine and resulted in no fourth amendment
violation. The defendant argues that the alleged seizure was not justified by the community
caretaking doctrine because it was readily apparent that the defendant stopped his car to
allow Williams to pass and not because of any car trouble or distress. We disagree.
¶ 44 The defendant cites no authority to support the argument that an officer must observe
an obvious need for help before initiating a safety check on the driver of a vehicle parked
along the side of the road. Even assuming, arguendo, that any distress was a relevant factor,
Williams could have reasonably concluded that the defendant was experiencing distress. The
fact that the defendant was driving 20 miles per hour under the speed limit could by itself
indicate the possibility of mechanical failure or physical illness. Accordingly, we reject the
defendant's argument that it was affirmatively shown that no danger or distress existed.
16
¶ 45 In applying the actual established law to the fact of this case, first, the evidence shows
that Trooper Williams was performing a function other than the investigation of a crime. See
McDonough, 239 Ill. 2d at 272. Williams testified that the defendant was traveling over 20
miles per hour under the speed limit. As shown on the video in the record, Williams was
forced to slow and stop as the defendant slowed and stopped in front of him. The defendant
parked on the shoulder of a rural road in the middle of the night. The road was poorly lit and
sparsely populated. These facts could prompt any reasonable police officer to have genuine
concern for the welfare of the defendant. See id. at 273. Williams parked behind the
defendant and notified dispatch that he was conducting a motorist assist. There is no
evidence to indicate that he was doing otherwise, and the totality of the circumstances
supports the reasonableness of Williams's decision to check on the welfare of the defendant.
See id.
¶ 46 Second, we find that Williams's actions were undertaken to protect the safety of the
general public. See id. at 272. As stated, the defendant was traveling more than 20 miles per
hour under the speed limit and the road was dark with no lane markings. Williams
indicated–and the video confirms–that the defendant came to a stop at the top of a hill and
Williams was unable to see any traffic that may be approaching from the opposite side. It
was not until Williams pulled right up behind the defendant and came to a stop that any
portion of the road on the opposite side of the hill became visible. Even then, the only
visible portion was a stretch of flat road beyond the hill and not the road on the opposite side
of the hill itself. Anyone desiring to drive around the defendant would have been required to
17
cross over into the opposite lane before any oncoming traffic would have been visible,
thereby posing a traffic risk and a public safety hazard.
¶ 47 The circuit court stated in its order that "it was clear from the video that the trooper
had sufficient room and vision to pass safely." Our review of the video, as described in
detail above, shows otherwise. However, notwithstanding the location of the vehicle and the
visibility of the road, the mere possibility of the defendant being stranded–in and of itself–
makes Williams's decision to check on him reasonable, regardless of where the defendant
actually pulled over. See id. (public interest for police to offer assistance to drivers who may
be stranded, especially after dark and where assistance may not be readily available). The
fact that the defendant did pull over at the top of the hill only further strengthens the
conclusion that it was in the interest of public safety that Williams check on the defendant's
welfare because of the restricted visibility of the road. For these reasons, we conclude that
the facts in the record fall under the community caretaking exception to the fourth
amendment, thereby making any alleged seizure of the defendant reasonable. Accordingly,
in addition to the finding of a consensual encounter, the reversal of the portion of the circuit
court's order that granted the defendant's motion to suppress is also warranted by the
community caretaking exception.
¶ 48 E. Defendant's Alternative Argument to Affirm
¶ 49 The defendant poses an alternative argument that this court should affirm the circuit
court's order granting the motion to suppress because–even if the initial encounter was
consensual–Williams seized the defendant when he took his license and registration back to
the squad car. According to the defendant, he was not free to leave, and the information
18
known to Williams at that time did not provide a reasonable suspicion that the defendant was
driving under the influence. We disagree.
¶ 50 First, the defendant has failed to prove that the seizure was effected when Williams
took the defendant's license and registration back to the squad car. As earlier established, a
police officer may "ask to examine [an] individual's identification" without turning the
encounter into a seizure, as long as the officer does not convey the message that compliance
is required. (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d at 551. "The
encounter becomes a seizure only if the officer, through physical force or a show of
authority, restrains the liberty of the vehicle's occupant." Id. at 552-53. In this case,
Williams did not ask to examine the defendant's license and registration. Rather, the
defendant had his license and registration out and in hand when Williams first approached
the vehicle, and the defendant offered the documents to Williams. As the State aptly argues,
by offering his identification, the defendant was inviting Williams to make a brief inspection
of it and was consenting to any resulting delay. The State further argues that if the defendant
did not feel free to leave while Williams was checking his license, any perceived restraint of
movement was self-imposed because the defendant offered his license and registration to
Williams. We agree.
¶ 51 Second, even assuming, arguendo, that the defendant was in fact seized when
Williams took the license and registration back to the squad car, we find the seizure was
justified because there is evidence that a reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity
had arisen by that time. See id. at 544. The evidence established that Williams received
advanced training to detect drivers under the influence of drugs. The defendant was
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traveling 32 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per-hour zone. The defendant rolled down his
window and wished Williams a "good afternoon," the defendant's speech was slow, the
defendant was slumped down in his seat, his movements were deliberate and delayed, and
his pants were undone and partially down. These facts, and any inferences therefrom, led
Williams to reasonably conclude that the defendant was driving under the influence of drugs.
As set forth in its order, the circuit court accepted the foregoing evidence about Williams's
observations of the defendant as true.
¶ 52 Although the defendant attempts to offer explanations for his behavior, we keep in
mind that "[i]t is the trier of fact's responsibility to determine the witnesses' credibility and
the weight given to their testimony, to resolve conflicts in the evidence, and to draw
reasonable inferences from the evidence; we will not substitute our judgment for that of the
trier of fact on these matters." People v. Brooks, 187 Ill. 2d 91, 132 (1999). Our duty is to
give great deference to the circuit court's factual findings, and we will not reverse those
findings unless they are against the manifest weight of the evidence. See Luedemann, 222
Ill. 2d at 542. "A finding is against the manifest weight of the evidence only if the opposite
conclusion is clearly evident." People v. Davis, 352 Ill. App. 3d 576, 579 (2004). Moreover,
"a finding is not against the manifest weight of the evidence merely because the record might
support a contrary decision." Graham v. Mimms, 111 Ill. App. 3d 751, 767 (1982). Indeed,
the existence of reasonable suspicion depends on the totality of the circumstances, and even
if innocent explanations could exist for individual factors viewed in isolation, the factors
viewed in combination may constitute reasonable suspicion. See People v. Ortiz, 317 Ill.
App. 3d 212, 223 (2000).
20
¶ 53 In summary, we find that the established facts, based on a totality of the
circumstances, constitute a reasonable articulable suspicion that the defendant was driving
under the influence. We further find that those facts were observed by Williams before he
returned to his squad car with the defendant's identification. Accordingly, any seizure at or
after that time was justified, and we disagree with the defendant's proposed alternative
argument to affirm the portion of the circuit court's order that granted the defendant's motion
to suppress evidence.
¶ 54 II. Petition to Rescind the SSS
¶ 55 A. Standard of Review
¶ 56 The second issue on appeal is whether the circuit court erred by granting the
defendant's petition to rescind the SSS. The Illinois Supreme Court established "a two-part
standard of review in an appeal of a petition to rescind." People v. Hacker, 388 Ill. App. 3d
346, 350 (2009). "In People v. Wear, 229 Ill. 2d 545, 561-62 *** (2008), the supreme court
held that the reviewing court will defer to factual findings but will review de novo the
ultimate determination of whether the petition to rescind should be granted." Id.
¶ 57 B. Propriety of the Stop
¶ 58 In his petition, the defendant cited multiple statutory bases for requesting a rescission
of the SSS. "In addition to the statutory grounds for rescinding a summary suspension
[citation], a suspension may be rescinded where the stop of the defendant's vehicle was
improper." People v. Paige, 385 Ill. App. 3d 486, 489 (2008). Here, the circuit court did not
consider any of the statutory bases cited by the defendant, but granted his petition to rescind
21
solely on its finding that the stop was unreasonable. Because we already found that the stop
was not unreasonable, we reverse the circuit court's order granting the petition on that basis.
¶ 59 C. Defendant's Alternative Arguments to Affirm
¶ 60 Regardless of the propriety of the stop, the defendant offers several alternative
arguments that the circuit court's decision to grant his petition to rescind the SSS should be
affirmed, based on the requirements of section 11-501.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Code)
(625 ILCS 5/11-501.1 (West 2014)). Although the circuit court made no findings regarding
any of these alternative arguments, the record is sufficient for us to address the issues raised
by the defendant.
¶ 61 1. Motorist Warnings
¶ 62 First, the defendant argues that the circuit court correctly granted his petition to
rescind the SSS because he was not adequately warned by Williams, as required by section
11-501.1(c) of the Code. See 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1(c) (West 2014). "A hearing on a petition
to rescind a summary suspension is a civil proceeding in which the driver bears the burden of
proof." People v. Wear, 229 Ill. 2d 545, 559-60 (2008). "If the driver establishes a prima
facie case for rescission, the burden shifts to the State to come forward with evidence
justifying the suspension." Id. at 560.
¶ 63 Here, the defendant concedes that when he called Williams as his witness at the
hearing, he elicited no testimony from Williams on the subject of whether warnings were
given. It was the defendant's burden to establish a prima facie case that the warnings were
not given. See id. at 559-60. Because the defendant presented no evidence that the warnings
were not given, the burden never shifted to the State to prove that the warnings were given.
22
See id. at 560. Accordingly, we disagree with the defendant that the circuit court correctly
granted his petition to rescind the SSS because he was not adequately warned.
¶ 64 2. Motorist Signature
¶ 65 The defendant next contends that the circuit court correctly granted his petition to
rescind because he did not acknowledge receipt of the warning by signing his name on the
document. In response, the State correctly notes that the statutory requirement of the driver's
signature acknowledging receipt of the warnings was not added to section 11-501.1(c) until
January 1, 2016, almost a year after the occurrence of the events in question. Because the
defendant was not statutorily required to sign his name on the warnings on the date in
question, we find that he did not meet his prima facie burden of showing any statutory
violation on that basis. See id. at 559-60. Accordingly, we disagree with the defendant that
the circuit court correctly granted his petition to rescind the SSS because he did not sign his
name acknowledging any warnings.
¶ 66 3. Refusal to Submit to Chemical Testing
¶ 67 The defendant's final argument is that the circuit court correctly granted his petition to
rescind the SSS because he did not refuse to submit to and/or complete the chemical tests as
required by the Code. See 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1 (West 2014). The only evidence presented
by the defendant on this issue was through his cross-examination of Trooper Williams, who
testified as follows:
"Q. I'm going to jump to the police station. Did you have Mr. Biagi to provide
you with a urine sample?
A. Yes, sir.
23
Q. And did you give him a cup to provide that urine sample in?
A. I provided him water.
Q. Water?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Okay. And did he ever refuse to give you the urine sample?
A. I asked him about a urine sample, he never explicitly said yes. He acted
like he wanted to. However, after an extended period of time he said he couldn't go
to the bathroom.
***
Q. So it's your testimony that Mr. Biagi said he was unable to urinate?
A. That was his story, yes."
¶ 68 The defendant argues that "[t]he State simply failed to establish that [the defendant]
refused testing or failed to complete testing after being properly advised." We find this
argument problematic because the burden is on the defendant to establish a prima facie case
that he did not refuse testing. See id. Only if he meets that burden would the burden shift to
the State. See id.
¶ 69 Here, we find the above testimony insufficient to establish a prima facie case that the
defendant did not refuse testing. "The determination of whether a motorist's physical
inability to complete a test constitutes a refusal is made on a case-by-case basis." People v.
Tibbetts, 351 Ill. App. 3d 921, 929 (2004). However, a defendant's bare claim that he is
unable to urinate is insufficient evidence to show that he did not refuse testing. See id.
There must be evidence demonstrating that it was physically or psychologically impossible
24
for the defendant to urinate. See id. There was no such evidence here. For that reason, we
find that the defendant did not meet his prima facie burden of showing that he did not refuse
testing. See Wear, 229 Ill. 2d at 559-60. To hold otherwise would allow any defendant to
will himself or herself not to urinate, simply claim that they are physically unable to do so,
and succeed in having their SSS rescinded based on the argument that they did not refuse
testing. For these reasons, we disagree with the defendant that the circuit court correctly
granted his petition to rescind the SSS on that basis.
¶ 70 Because the defendant did not establish a prima facie case on any of his alternative
arguments to affirm based on the requirements of the Code, we reverse the circuit court's
order that granted his petition to rescind the SSS.
¶ 71 CONCLUSION
¶ 72 For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the April 13, 2015, order of the circuit court of
Marion County that granted the defendant's motion to suppress evidence and granted his
petition to rescind the SSS.
¶ 73 Reversed.
¶ 74 JUSTICE WELCH, dissenting.
¶ 75 I respectfully disagree with the majority's position that the encounter between the
defendant and Williams–prior to Williams's observation of signs that the defendant was
under the influence–was consensual and not a seizure. I am mindful of the supreme court
decision in Luedemann, which concludes that the use of a flashlight to illuminate a vehicle
without the presence of some form of coercion does not constitute a seizure. However, I
agree with the defendant that Luedemann is distinguishable from the present case.
25
¶ 76 In Luedemann, the officer testified that he was on patrol in a residential neighborhood
when he observed defendant sitting in the driver's seat of a car parked in front of a house.
People v. Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d 530, 533 (2006). As the officer's vehicle approached the
defendant's vehicle, the officer observed defendant reach toward the floorboard on the
passenger side of the car and then return to a seated position. Id. at 534. The officer then
observed defendant slump down approximately six to eight inches in his seat. Id. The
officer drove past defendant's vehicle and parked in the center of the street. Id. The officer
then exited his vehicle and approached defendant's vehicle, shining a flashlight around and
into defendant's car as he approached. Id. at 534, 539.
¶ 77 Unlike Luedemann, the defendant in the present case was not parked on the side of the
road in a residential neighborhood. The defendant was driving on an oil and chip rural road
with no lane markings at night. The road was dark and it was lightly raining. The defendant
observed Williams approaching from behind and quickly gaining on his vehicle. The
defendant determined that it was necessary to partially pull over on the shoulder to allow the
vehicle to pass. After pulling over, he observed the vehicle pull over directly behind him
instead of passing. Although Williams testified that he did not pass the defendant's vehicle
because the defendant came to a stop at the top of a hill and Williams was unable to see any
traffic that may be approaching from the opposite side, the circuit court concluded, after
watching the video, that there was sufficient room and vision to pass safely. After parking
his marked police patrol car behind the defendant, Williams activated his "takedown" lights,
which are two bright LED white lights that are inside the light bar on top of the patrol car,
26
and his emergency rear flashers. He then approached the defendant's vehicle in an
authoritative manner, being in full uniform with a visible weapon and his flashlight drawn.
¶ 78 Considering the totality of the circumstances, Williams's actions constituted a show of
authority, indicating that the defendant was not free to terminate the encounter. The use of
the takedown lights in conjunction with the other coercive behavior exhibited by Williams
transformed this encounter into a seizure. Thus, I would have affirmed the circuit court's
order granting the defendant's motion to suppress.
¶ 79 Furthermore, I disagree with the majority's position that the "assumed seizure" was
reasonable under the community caretaking doctrine. I find it significant that the circuit
court found that the stop was not reasonable in that there was nothing in the operation and
stop of the defendant's vehicle that would cause one to suspect that the occupants of the
vehicle needed assistance. The court concluded that the defendant's vehicle appeared in the
video to be operating correctly, i.e., the lights were all on, the engine was running, the tires
were inflated, and the brakes worked. The court found that the defendant's vehicle traveled
smoothly in its own lane until it stopped along the road.
¶ 80 While stopping, the defendant's vehicle appeared to be under control; the turn signal
was used, the stop was controlled and gradual, and the defendant left enough room for
another vehicle to travel around it safely. The court noted that the defendant did not exit his
vehicle to seek assistance from the trailing vehicle. The court noted that Williams was able
to observe the operation of the defendant's vehicle for a period of time prior to the stop as
Williams did not come upon the vehicle already parked. I find nothing in the record to
27
support a conclusion that the circuit court's findings of fact are against the manifest weight of
the evidence.
¶ 81 Viewing Williams's actions objectively, the evidence did not indicate any
noninvestigatory purpose for the stop. Although Williams notified dispatch that he was
conducting a motorist assist, there was not sufficient evidence in the record to indicate that
the defendant required assistance. Instead, it appears that Williams was attempting to
investigate criminal activity under the guise of community caretaking. Thus, I agree with the
circuit court and find that that the seizure was not justified by the community caretaking
doctrine. Accordingly, because I would affirm the circuit court's decision to grant the
defendant's motion to suppress as well as the court's decision to grant the defendant's petition
to rescind statutory summary suspension, I respectfully dissent from the majority's
disposition in this case.
28
2017 IL App (5th) 150244
NO. 5-15-0244
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
FIFTH DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________________
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the
) Circuit Court of
Plaintiff-Appellant, ) Marion County.
)
v. ) No. 15-DT-03
)
CHRISTOPHER BIAGI, ) Honorable
) Mark W. Stedelin,
Defendant-Appellee. ) Judge, presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Rule 23 Order Filed: October 18, 2016
Motion to Publish Granted: January 5, 2017
Opinion Filed: January 5, 2017
______________________________________________________________________________________
Justices: Honorable James R. Moore, P.J.
Honorable Melissa A. Chapman, J.,
Concurred
Honorable Thomas M. Welch, J.,
Dissented
______________________________________________________________________________________
Attorneys Patrick Delfino, Director, David J. Robinson, Acting Deputy Director, Jennifer
for Camden, Staff Attorney, Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor,
Appellant Fifth Distict Office, 730 E. Illinois Highway 15, Suite 2, P.O. Box 2249, Mt.
Vernon, IL 62864; Hon. Bill J. Milner, State's Attorney, Marion County
Courthouse, P.O. Box 157, Salem, IL 62881
______________________________________________________________________________________
Attorneys Michael J. Pelletier, State Appellate Defender, Ellen J. Curry, Deputy Defender,
for Elizabeth M. Crotty, Assistant Appellate Defender, Office of the State Appellate
Appellee Defender, Fifth Judicial District, 909 Water Tower Circle, Mt. Vernon, IL
62864
______________________________________________________________________________________