COURT OF APPEALS

DECISION

DATED AND FILED

November 1, 2022

Sheila T. Reiff

Clerk of Court of Appeals

NOTICE

This opinion is subject to further editing. If 

published, the official version will appear in 

the bound volume of the Official Reports. 

A party may file with the Supreme Court a 

petition to review an adverse decision by the 

Court of Appeals. See WIS. STAT. § 808.10 

and RULE 809.62. 

Appeal No. 2019AP435-CR Cir. Ct. No. 2016CF3891

STATE OF WISCONSIN IN COURT OF APPEALS

DISTRICT I

STATE OF WISCONSIN,

PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT-PETITIONER,

V.

JAMES TIMOTHY GENOUS,

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

APPEAL from a judgment of the circuit court for Milwaukee

County: DENNIS R. CIMPL, Judge. Affirmed. 

Before Brash, C.J., Donald, P.J., and Dugan, J. 

¶1 DUGAN, J. James Timothy Genous appeals from a judgment of 

conviction, following a guilty plea, to one count of felon in possession of a 

firearm. In an unpublished opinion, we reversed the circuit court’s denial of 

Genous’ motion to suppress, and we concluded that the officers who stopped 
No. 2019AP435-CR

2

Genous lacked reasonable suspicion to conduct the stop. See State v. Genous

(Genous I), No. 2019AP435-CR, unpublished slip op. (WI App April 28, 2020). 

The State petitioned the Wisconsin Supreme Court for review. Our supreme court 

disagreed and concluded that the officers did in fact have reasonable suspicion to 

stop Genous. See State v. Genous (Genous II), 2021 WI 50, 397 Wis. 2d 293, 

961 N.W.2d 41. This case is now on remand from our supreme court, and we 

consider the remaining issues presented, namely whether the search of Genous’ 

socks and shoes or the search of Genous’ vehicle was unlawful and requires 

suppression of the firearm. For the reasons set forth below, we now affirm.

BACKGROUND

¶2 At the hearing on the motion to suppress the firearm that the officers 

found during the search of his vehicle, Police Officer Adam Stikl testified that he

stopped Genous on August 28, 2016, at 3:36 a.m., after observing Genous’ vehicle 

parked outside the residence of a known heroin user and further observing Genous 

drive away, after a female from that residence entered Genous’ vehicle and then

left within a matter of seconds. In Genous II, 397 Wis. 2d 293, ¶¶2-3, our 

supreme court described that transaction as follows:

At 3:36 a.m. on August 28, 2016, James Genous sat 

in a parked, running vehicle on a residential street in West 

Allis with its headlights turned on. Genous momentarily 

turned off the headlights, and a woman emerged from the 

house he was parked in front of. She entered the vehicle 

through the front passenger door and remained in the car 

for 10 to 15 seconds. The woman then exited the vehicle 

and ran back into the house. A few seconds later, the 

vehicle’s headlights turned back on and the car pulled 

away.

West Allis Patrol Officer Adam Stikl watched these 

events from an unmarked squad car half a block away. 

Two weeks prior, he received an intra-department email 

regarding [Kimberly], a resident of the single-family home 
No. 2019AP435-CR

3

Genous was parked in front of. [Kimberly] was a known 

heroin and narcotics user who previously worked with the 

department. The email explained that the department was 

no longer working with [Kimberly] and that officers were 

to “keep an eye on her because she does obviously still 

use.” After receiving the email, Officer Stikl looked up 

[Kimberly]’s physical description on his department’s local 

system. As Officer Stikl watched the brief, nighttime 

interaction when the events leading to this case took place, 

he observed that the woman entering and exiting Genous’

car matched [Kimberly]’s physical description.[

1

]

Officer Bernie Molthen also testified at the suppression hearing that during the 

stop he discovered a firearm under the driver’s seat of Genous’ vehicle.

¶3 Genous filed a motion to suppress the firearm that the officers found

during the search of his vehicle. The circuit court held a hearing on the motion at 

which the officers testified and the dash cam video of the stop was introduced into 

evidence. The circuit court denied Genous’ motion, and Genous appealed. 

¶4 On appeal, we reversed the circuit court. We concluded that the 

firearm must be suppressed because the officers lacked reasonable suspicion to 

conduct the stop, and we determined that the officers placed too heavy of an

emphasis on the brief interaction with a known drug user and the location of the 

interaction. Genous I, No. 2019AP435-CR, ¶¶15-18. 

¶5 The State petitioned the Wisconsin Supreme Court for review, and 

on review, our supreme court concluded that the officers had reasonable suspicion 

to conduct the stop and remanded the case for us to consider the remaining issues 

raised by Genous in his appeal. Genous II, 397 Wis. 2d 293, ¶13. The court 

 

1

 We use a pseudonym to refer to the individual seen in Genous’ car that night to protect 

her identity. In its decision in State v. Genous (Genous II), 2021 WI 50, 397 Wis. 2d 293, 961 

N.W.2d 41, our supreme court used her initials.
No. 2019AP435-CR

4

concluded that Officer Stikl’s suspicion that he had witnessed a drug transaction 

was “objectively reasonable” and that Officer Stikl “could reasonably infer quite a 

bit about the events he observed that night” based on “his training, experience, and 

department communications.” Id., ¶11. The court described Officer Stikl’s 

knowledge as follows:

Informed by his training, experience, and department 

communications, Officer Stikl could reasonably infer quite 

a bit about the events he observed that night. He knew that 

drug transactions often occur during brief exchanges in 

vehicles, which was consistent with the 10-15 second 

contact in Genous’ car. He also knew that a brief meeting 

in a vehicle at 3:36 a.m., immediately after the vehicle’s 

headlights are turned off, and in an area with a reputation 

for drug-trafficking, are potential indicators of illegal 

activity. And perhaps most significantly, Officer Stikl had 

good reason to believe that the woman Genous met in his 

vehicle was a known drug user with whom his department 

had a documented history.

Id. (footnotes omitted). It then stated that “[a]ll these factors, viewed collectively 

in the eye of a trained and experienced law enforcement officer, support the 

conclusion that Officer Stikl reasonably suspected a drug transaction had 

occurred.” Id.

¶6 On remand, we now consider Genous’ remaining arguments as to 

whether the search of his socks and shoes or the search of his vehicle was 

unlawful and required suppression of the firearm. Additional relevant facts will be 

set forth in the discussion as necessary.

DISCUSSION

¶7 We apply the same two-step standard of review to a circuit court’s 

denial of a motion to suppress and a review of a search under the Fourth 

Amendment. We uphold the circuit court’s factual findings unless those findings 
No. 2019AP435-CR

5

are clearly erroneous, and we review independently the application of 

constitutional principles to those facts. See State v. Carroll, 2010 WI 8, ¶17, 322 

Wis. 2d 299, 778 N.W.2d 1; State v. Lonkoski, 2013 WI 30, ¶21, 346 Wis. 2d 523, 

828 N.W.2d 552.

I. The Search of Genous’ Socks and Shoes

¶8 During the hearing on the motion to suppress, Officer Stikl testified 

that when he stopped the vehicle, he approached the driver’s side window and

obtained Genous’ identification, and returned to his squad car to process his 

identification. While Officer Stikl was processing Genous’ identification, Officer 

Molthen and a third officer who had arrived at the scene of the stop, asked Genous

to exit his vehicle after Officer Molthen observed Genous make a furtive 

movement leaning down towards the floor of his car.

2

 Genous complied. The 

officers further instructed Genous to sit on the curb and remove his socks and 

shoes. On appeal, Genous argues that this search of his socks and shoes while he 

sat on the curb was unlawful and renders the subsequent search of his vehicle

unlawful. Genous phrases his argument related to the search of his socks and 

shoes as one in which the officers exceeded the permissible purpose of the stop, 

and he argues that the officers needed probable cause to conduct a search of his

socks and shoes. 

¶9 The State argues that the search of Genous’ socks and shoes was a 

lawful protective search for weapons. Alternatively, the State argues that, even if 

 

2

 Although Officer Molthen testified that the third officer asked Genous to exit his 

vehicle, during his testimony Officer Stikl testified that he asked Genous to exit his vehicle after 

Officer Molthen told him about Genous’ furtive movements. We conclude that whether Officer 

Stikl or the third officer asked Genous to exit his vehicle does not affect our decision.
No. 2019AP435-CR

6

the search of Genous’ socks and shoes was illegal, it was not a “but for” cause of 

the search of his car that produced the firearm, and therefore, the search of 

Genous’ socks and shoes does not require suppression of the firearm subsequently 

found during the search of the vehicle. We agree with the State.

¶10 Pat-down searches or frisks are “justified when an officer has a 

reasonable suspicion that a suspect may be armed.” State v. Morgan, 197 Wis. 2d 

200, 209, 539 N.W.2d 887 (1995) (emphasis added). “The ‘reasonable suspicion’ 

must be based upon ‘specific and articulable facts,’ which, taken together with any 

rational inferences that may be drawn from those facts, must establish that the 

intrusion was reasonable.” State v. McGill, 2000 WI 38, ¶22, 234 Wis. 2d 560, 

609 N.W.2d 795 (citation omitted). “[T]he determination of reasonableness is 

made in light of the totality of the circumstances known to the searching officer.” 

Morgan, 197 Wis. 2d at 209. Looking to the totality of the circumstances here, 

we conclude that the officers had a reasonable suspicion that Genous may have 

been armed, which justified the search of Genous’ socks and shoes. 

¶11 It has already been established that Genous was lawfully stopped 

based on reasonable suspicion that a drug transaction had occurred. See 

Genous II, 397 Wis. 2d 293, ¶13. As our supreme court described in Genous II, 

Genous had been parked outside the house of a known heroin user at 3:36 a.m. and 

turned off the headlights of his vehicle. Id., ¶11. Then, an individual matching 

the description of Kimberly, the known heroin user, briefly met with Genous 

inside the vehicle, and after that individual left his vehicle and went back inside 

the residence, Genous drove away. Id. The Genous II court also noted that the 

transaction occurred “in an area with a reputation for drug-trafficking.” Id. The 

court stated that those facts are “potential indicators of illegal activity.” Id.
No. 2019AP435-CR

7

¶12 Furthermore, Officer Stikl testified at the suppression hearing that he 

had observed several cell phones, cigar wrappers, and hand sanitizer in plain view 

in Genous’ vehicle when he first approached the vehicle and he was speaking with 

Genous. He further testified that, based on his training and experience, these were 

items commonly used in drug-related activity. Officer Stikl also testified that he 

questioned Genous about the individual who met with him in his vehicle. 

According to Officer Stikl, Genous initially answered that he was meeting his 

mistress, but his mistress failed to show up. However, when Officer Stikl told 

Genous that he observed a female enter the vehicle, Genous admitted that a

woman met with him in his vehicle, but he did not provide a name for her. Officer 

Stikl then told Genous that he pulled him over because he believed Genous was 

involved in a drug transaction with the woman. He testified that Genous denied he 

engaged in a drug transaction and said that the woman wanted some money and 

she got upset when he did not give her any, and she left the car and went back into 

the house. As Officer Stikl continued to question Genous, Genous finally stated 

that the woman’s first name was Kimberly, but he did not know her last name.3 

We note that not being truthful with a police officer is also a potential indicator of 

illegal activity.

¶13 Officer Molthen also testified at the suppression hearing. He 

testified that when he arrived on the scene, he positioned himself at the rear 

passenger side of the vehicle so he could observe Genous through the rear 

window. He explained that as a back-up officer his role was to watch to see if 

Genous was making any movements to access any weapons and to see if there was 

 

3

 We note that the first name provided by Genous is the same first name as the heroin 

user who was known to police to have lived in the residence where Genous was parked.
No. 2019AP435-CR

8

anything illegal in plain view in the vehicle. He further testified that while he was 

watching Genous, he observed him make several movements with his right 

shoulder—dipping his right shoulder down “like he was reaching for something 

underneath his seat or trying to place something underneath the seat.” Officer 

Molthen testified that he was concerned that Genous might be accessing a weapon 

to assault officers. As noted above, after observing Genous’ furtive movements, 

Officer Molthen and a third officer who had arrived on the scene, asked Genous to 

exit his vehicle.

¶14 We note that “weapons are often ‘tools of the trade’ for drug 

dealers,” and “those who deal drugs often keep weapons on their person or 

nearby.” State v. Guy, 172 Wis. 2d 86, 96, 492 N.W.2d 311 (1992) (citation 

omitted); see also State v. Johnson, 2007 WI 32, ¶38, 299 Wis. 2d 675, 729 

N.W.2d 182 (recognizing that “selling drugs” is “a crime officers have known to 

be associated with the possession of deadly weapons”). Moreover, our supreme 

court in Guy stated that it recognized that “[t]he violence associated with drug 

trafficking today places law enforcement officers in extreme danger.” Guy, 172 

Wis. 2d at 96 (citation omitted). Additionally, our supreme court recognized in 

State v. Richardson that “[s]everal cases have found that drug dealers and 

weapons go hand in hand[.]” Id., 156 Wis. 2d 128, 144, 456 N.W.2d 830 (1990). 

In fact, our supreme court has previously noted that officers have searched for 
No. 2019AP435-CR

9

weapons as small as razor blades when investigating suspected drug activity.4 See 

Guy, 172 Wis. 2d at 96-97. The search of Genous’ socks and shoes also occurred 

at night when an officer’s visibility is reduced and there are fewer people to 

observe the encounter. McGill, 234 Wis. 2d 560, ¶32. Thus, we conclude that

considering the totality of the circumstances, the officers had a reasonable 

suspicion that Genous may be armed and the search of Genous’ socks and shoes 

was a lawful protective search for weapons that Genous may have hidden in his 

socks or shoes.

¶15 Nevertheless, we next address the State’s argument that, even if the 

search of Genous’ shoes and socks was illegal, this illegal conduct would not 

entitle him to suppression of the gun that the police found in his car because there 

is no causal link between the search of Genous’ shoes and socks and the search of 

his car. In other words, the State argues that the search of Genous’ socks and 

shoes was not a “but for” cause of the search of the vehicle and thus, any assumed 

illegality in the search of Genous’ socks and shoes did not taint the subsequent 

search of the vehicle.

 

4

 We note that the Dissent faults the Majority for recognizing that Genous could have 

been hiding a razor blade in his socks or shoes which could be used as a weapon against the 

officers. Dissent, ¶4. First, as noted, our supreme court in Guy recognized that officers do search 

for razor blades because “suspects could use [them] as weapons.” See State v. Guy, 172 Wis. 2d 

86, 96-97, 492 N.W.2d 311 (1992). Further, in State v. Denk, 2008 WI 130, ¶59, 315 Wis. 2d 5, 

758 N.W.2d 775, the court explained that it was reasonable for officers to search an eyeglass case 

because it was capable of containing a small weapon, such as a knife or a razor blade. Moreover, 

we must consider the totality of the circumstances, which in this case includes, as our supreme 

court noted in Genous II, 397 Wis. 2d 293, ¶13, that the officers had reasonable suspicion that 

Genous engaged in a drug transaction. Further, he was not truthfully answering Officer Stikl’s 

questions, Officer Stikl saw other items commonly associated with drug dealing—multiple cell 

phones, cigar wrappers, and hand sanitizer—and most significantly, his furtive movements 

suggested he was attempting to hide a weapon in his socks or shoes. These facts also are 

indicators of illegal activity—here, dealing drugs.
No. 2019AP435-CR

10

¶16 Thus, the issue that we address then is whether the exclusionary rule 

applies to the facts in this case. In State v. Carroll, 322 Wis. 2d 299, ¶19, our 

supreme court explained that

the exclusionary rule requires courts to suppress evidence 

obtained through the exploitation of an illegal search or 

seizure. Wong Sun v. United States, [371 U.S. 471, 488]

(1963). This rule applies not only to primary evidence 

seized during an unlawful search, but also to derivative 

evidence acquired as a result of the illegal search, unless 

the State shows sufficient attenuation from the original 

illegality to dissipate that taint. Murray v. United States, 

[487 U.S. 533, 536-37] (1988).

However, in Hudson v. Michigan, 547 U.S. 586, 591 (2006), the United States 

Supreme Court stated that “[s]uppression of evidence, however, has always been 

our last resort, not our first impulse.” It explained, “The exclusionary rule 

generates substantial social costs, which sometimes include setting the guilty free 

and the dangerous at large. We have therefore been cautious against expanding 

it[.]” Id. at 591 (citations, brackets, and quotations omitted).

¶17 The Hudson Court further explained that “[w]hether the 

exclusionary sanction is appropriately imposed in a particular case ... is ‘an issue 

separate from the question whether the Fourth Amendment rights of the party 

seeking to invoke the rule were violated by police conduct.’” Id. at 591-92

(alteration in original; citation omitted). It then stated that “[i]n other words, 

exclusion may not be premised on the mere fact that a constitutional violation was 

a ‘but-for’ cause of obtaining evidence. Our cases show that but-for causality is 

only a necessary, not a sufficient, condition for suppression.” Id. at 592.

¶18 In State v. Hogan, 2015 WI 76, ¶66, 364 Wis. 2d 167, 868 N.W.2d 

124, citing Hudson and Harris, our supreme court noted that attenuation analysis 

is not necessary in all cases. It then stated, “[A]ttenuation analysis is only 
No. 2019AP435-CR

11

appropriate where, as a threshold matter, courts determine that ‘the challenged 

evidence is in some sense the product of illegal governmental activity.’” Id.

(quoting New York v. Harris, 495 U.S. 14, 19 (1990)). The court then explained,

“If the unlawful police conduct was not a ‘but-for’ cause of the search, attenuation 

analysis is unnecessary because the consent [here the search of Genous’ car] is not 

tainted by the unlawful conduct in such a case.” See id. (citing Hudson, 547 U.S. 

at 592 ). 

¶19 In Hudson, although the police had a lawful search warrant to enter 

and search a residence, Michigan conceded that the entry constituted a knock-andannounce violation. Thus, the entry was unlawful, and therefore the issue was the 

proper remedy. Id., 547 U.S. at 590. The Court concluded that 

[i]n this case, of course, the constitutional violation of an 

illegal manner of entry was not a but-for cause of obtaining 

the evidence. Whether that preliminary misstep had 

occurred or not, the police would have executed the 

warrant they had obtained, and would have discovered the 

gun and drugs inside the house. 

Id. at 592. Thus, it concluded that the violation of the knock-and-announce rule 

did not require the suppression of the evidence found during the search. Id. at 

593, 599.

¶20 As the State points out, the issue that we address then is whether the 

search of Genous’ socks and shoes was the “but-for” cause for the police finding 

the gun in his car. The State argues that the police did not discover any evidence

in Genous’ socks and shoes, and nothing was produced during the search of his

socks and shoes that led the officers to search Genous’ vehicle and find the 

firearm. It then argues because but-for causation is lacking, Genous is missing 

this necessary condition of suppression, and thus, the State need not prove that the 
No. 2019AP435-CR

12

search of Genous’ car was attenuated from the search of his socks and shoes. We 

agree and conclude that, even if the search of Genous’ socks and shoes constituted 

unlawful police conduct, it was not a “but-for” cause of the search of his car 

because the search was not tainted by the search of his socks and shoes. See

Hudson, 547 U.S. at 592. Similar to the facts in Hudson, whether that 

preliminary misstep—searching the socks and shoes—had occurred or not, the 

police had, as we discuss below, probable cause to search Genous’ car for drugs,

and therefore would have discovered the gun in his car.

¶21 In his reply brief, Genous asserts that the State misses the point of 

his argument. First, he argues that the illegal search of his socks and shoes 

rendered the Terry5stop itself unconstitutional. He then asserts that any evidence 

the police discovered from then on was fruit of a poisonous tree—the poisonous 

tree here being the unconstitutional stop that was ongoing. However, Genous does 

not cite any authority for his proposition that the illegal search of his socks and 

shoes rendered the Terry stop itself unconstitutional, nor does he develop the 

argument. In other words, he has not developed or presented an argument telling 

us why we should accept his conclusory proposition, and he has not referred us to 

any legal authority supporting the statement. We need not address undeveloped 

arguments. See State v. Pettit, 171 Wis. 2d 627, 646-47, 492 N.W.2d 633 (Ct. 

App. 1992). 

¶22 Furthermore, we recognize that Genous failed to refute the State’s 

argument on this point. He merely contends that the State’s reliance on Hogan is 

unavailing because the illegal extension of the traffic stop ended when the police 

 

5

 Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968).
No. 2019AP435-CR

13

told Hogan he could leave and therefore, the illegal stop could not have been the 

but-for cause of the consent. We note that it is true that the court in Hogan did 

state that because the illegal extension of the traffic stop ended, the illegal stop 

could not have been the but-for cause of the consent. However, Genous’ argument 

is based on his conclusory, unsupported argument “that the illegal search of his 

socks and shoes rendered the Terry stop itself unconstitutional.” As discussed 

above, because the search of Genous’ socks and shoes was not a but-for cause of 

the police finding the gun in his car, the search was not tainted by the search of his 

socks and shoes. Genous’ argument does not address the holdings in Hudson or

Harris on which our supreme court’s holding in Hogan is based. Thus, he has 

failed to refute the State’s argument, and therefore, he has conceded the State’s 

argument. See United Coop. v. Frontier FS Coop., 2007 WI App 197, ¶39, 304 

Wis. 2d 750, 738 N.W.2d 578. 

¶23 Consequently, the subsequent search of Genous’ vehicle was in no 

way influenced, or “tainted,” by any assumed illegality in the search of Genous’ 

socks and shoes. See Hogan, 364 Wis. 2d 167, ¶66 (noting that unlawful police 

activity does not taint a subsequent search if it is not a “but for” cause of the 

search). Accordingly, we conclude that, even if the search of Genous’ socks and 
No. 2019AP435-CR

14

shoes was illegal, that conduct does not require suppression of the firearm found 

during the search of the vehicle. See id., ¶9.6

II. The Search of Genous’ Vehicle

¶24 Subsequent to the search of Genous’ socks and shoes, Officer 

Molthen opened the driver’s side door of Genous’ vehicle to further examine the 

items Officer Stikl observed in the vehicle, and he discovered a firearm under the 

driver’s seat. On appeal, Genous argues that the firearm must be suppressed 

because this search of his vehicle was unlawful—he argues that the officers lacked

probable cause to open the door of his car and search his vehicle. We disagree, 

and we conclude that the officers had probable cause to search Genous’ vehicle for 

illegal drugs based on Officer Stikl’s observation of Genous’ interaction with 

Kimberly, his further observation of several cell phones, cigar wrappers, and hand 

sanitizer, which were in plain view at the time Officer Stikl first approached 

 

6

 The Dissent addresses this issue by stating that State v. Hogan, 2015 WI 76, 364 

Wis. 2d 167, 868 N.W.2d 124, is not applicable to this case because Hogan involved the 

voluntariness of a defendant’s statements given after illegal police activity. Dissent, ¶9. It then 

states, “Consent analysis proceeds under a distinct framework.” Dissent, ¶9. The Dissent then 

states that in Hogan, the court held that the illegal police activity did not taint the defendant’s 

subsequent consent because the stop was over at the time the defendant gave consent, but in 

contrast to this case, there is no evidence that the stop was over and Genous was free to leave. 

Dissent, ¶10. However, the Dissent misconstrues the holding in Hogan, and the cases it relies 

on—Hudson v. Michigan, 547 U.S. 586 (2006), and New York v. Harris, 495 U.S. 14 (1990). 

Pursuant to those cases, we consider whether the assumed unlawful police conduct—the search of 

Genous’ socks and shoes—was a but-for cause of the search of his car, and if it is not, the search 

of his car is not tainted by the assumed unlawful conduct in such a case. The focus is not on the 

“stop,” which our supreme court found in Genous II was lawful, but on the assumed unlawful 

conduct of searching Genous’ socks and shoes and whether that was the but-for cause of the 

police searching his car. It was not—like the facts in Hudson. Here, the police had probable 

cause to search Genous’ car for drugs and would have done so with or without finding any 

evidence of drugs or a weapon on Genous.
No. 2019AP435-CR

15

Genous in his vehicle,

7 Genous not answering Officer Stikl’s questions truthfully,

and Officer Molthen’s observing Genous’ furtive movements in his vehicle.

¶25 “[L]aw enforcement officers may search an entire motor vehicle 

without a warrant if there is probable cause to believe that the vehicle contains 

contraband.” State v. Matejka, 2001 WI 5, ¶23, 241 Wis. 2d 52, 621 N.W.2d 891. 

Probable cause “is neither a technical nor a legalistic concept,” and is “a flexible 

common-sense standard.” State v. Pozo, 198 Wis. 2d 705, 711, 544 N.W.2d 228 

(Ct. App. 1995) (citation omitted). Probable cause to search requires a “quantum 

of evidence” that would lead a reasonable officer to believe that “evidence of a 

crime will be found.” State v. Secrist, 224 Wis. 2d 201, 209, 589 N.W.2d 387 

(1999). Overall, probable cause “requires only a probability or substantial chance 

of criminal activity”; it is “not a high bar.” District of Columbia v. Wesby, 583

U.S. ___, 138 S. Ct. 577, 586 (2018) (citations omitted).

¶26 First, our supreme court concluded that Officer Stikl’s suspicion that 

the interaction that he witnessed in Genous’ car with a known heroin user was a 

drug transaction, which was objectively reasonable for the reasons stated above. 

See Genous II, 397 Wis. 2d 293, ¶13. Additionally, Officer Stikl observed that 

Genous had items commonly associated with drug activity in plain view in his 

vehicle, including multiple cell phones, hand sanitizer, and cigar wrappers. 

Specifically, Officer Stikl testified at the suppression hearing that hand sanitizer is

 

7

 The State additionally argues that the police observed the firearm on the floor of 

Genous’ vehicle before opening the car door and searching his vehicle and that, therefore, the 

police had reasonable suspicion to search Genous’ vehicle for weapons. Having concluded that 

the search of Genous’ vehicle was lawful on the basis of probable cause to search the vehicle for 

evidence of drug activity, we do not address these additional arguments raised by the State. See 

State v. Blalock, 150 Wis. 2d 688, 703, 442 N.W.2d 514 (Ct. App. 1989).
No. 2019AP435-CR

16

often used by drug dealers to clean their hands after they remove drugs concealed 

in their anal area and cigar wrappers are often used to make blunts for smoking 

marijuana. Further, Officer Molthen observed Genous dipping his right shoulder

down like he was reaching for something underneath his seat or trying to place 

something underneath his seat. The officers then asked Genous to step out of the 

car. Officer Stikl testified that after processing his identification and after Officer 

Molthen told him about Genous’ furtive movements in his car, he believed that a 

drug transaction probably occurred—between Genous and Kimberly while she 

was in his car.

¶27 Taken together, these facts satisfy the quantum of evidence needed 

to lead a reasonable officer to believe that Genous was involved in drug-related 

activity, and the officers were justified in opening the door of the vehicle to 

determine if the car or the items Officer Stikl observed in the car contained any 

evidence of drugs. See Pozo, 198 Wis. 2d at 713 (concluding that the officer could 

reasonably infer based on the circumstances and his training and experience that 

the sandwich bag contained marijuana). Therefore, we conclude that the search of 

Genous vehicle, during which the firearm was discovered, was a lawful search.

CONCLUSION

¶28 In sum, we conclude that the circuit court properly denied Genous’ 

motion to suppress evidence of the firearm found in his vehicle. The search of 

Genous’ socks and shoes was lawful as a protective search for weapons and, in 

any event, was not a “but for” cause of the search of Genous’ vehicle that could 

invalidate the subsequent search of Genous’ vehicle. Furthermore, the search of 

Genous’ vehicle during which the firearm was found was supported by probable 
No. 2019AP435-CR

17

cause of drug activity and was therefore, a lawful search. Accordingly, the circuit 

court properly denied Genous’ motion to suppress, and we affirm.

By the Court.—Judgment affirmed.

Not recommended for publication in the official reports.
No. 2019AP435(D)

¶29 DONALD, P.J. (dissenting). Contrary to the Majority, I would hold 

that the officers exceeded the permissible scope of a Terry stop. Based on my 

review of the video of the stop, it is evident that the officers were engaged in a 

fishing expedition for contraband. I write briefly to make three points. 

¶30 First, I would find that the police exceeded the permissible scope of 

the pat-down search by ordering Genous to take off his shoes and his socks. It is 

well-established that a police officer may conduct a pat-down when an officer has 

a reason to believe that a suspect is armed and dangerous. See, e.g., Terry v. Ohio, 

392 U.S. 1, 30 (1968). The permissible scope of this type of search, however, is 

narrow. “The search for weapons approved in Terry consisted solely of a limited 

patting of the outer clothing of the suspect for concealed objects which might be 

used as instruments of assault.” Sibron v. New York, 392 U.S. 40, 65 (1968) 

(emphasis added); see also, Minnesota v. Dickerson, 508 U.S. 366, 375 (1993). 

Ordering a person to take off his or her socks and shoes is a far cry from the 

“limited patting of the outer clothing.” 

¶31 Moreover, there is nothing in the record reflecting that ordering 

Genous to remove his shoes and his socks was reasonably necessary for an 

effective search in this case. See State v. Triplett, 2005 WI App 255, ¶¶14, 19, 

288 Wis. 2d 515, 707 N.W.2d 881 (holding that where the defendant had a “bulky 

frame and heavy clothing” shaking a defendant’s waistband by the belt loops was 

a reasonable means of facilitating an effective pat-down). For example, there is no 

indication in the record that Genous was wearing heavy or bulky boots which 

might conceal a weapon. Nor does the record reflect that his shoes were untied or 
No. 2019AP435(D)

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ill-fitting which might suggest a hidden weapon accessible to Genous. And, even 

if the removal of Genous’s shoes was necessary, it is unclear why a pat-down for 

weapons could not be conducted over his socks. 

¶32 The Majority suggests that ordering Genous to take off his shoes and 

socks was necessary because a small razor blade could be hidden in his shoes or 

socks. See Majority, ¶14. By this logic, however, the police could order a person 

to take off clothing anywhere a small blade might be hidden, such as a bra or 

underwear. This would seemingly obliterate any limitation on the scope of a patdown search by the police. 

¶33 Second, the Majority discounts any illegality of the pat-down search 

because the officers did not discover any incriminating evidence on Genous. See 

Majority, ¶20. I disagree with the Majority’s analysis. 

¶34 There are three exceptions to the exclusionary rule that involve the 

causal relationship between an unconstitutional act and the discovery of 

evidence—the independent source doctrine, the inevitable discovery doctrine, and 

the attenuation doctrine. See Utah v. Strieff, 579 U.S. 232, 238 (2016). The 

State’s brief does not reference the independent source doctrine or the inevitable 

discovery doctrine. This leaves the attenuation doctrine. 

¶35 The attenuation doctrine provides that “[e]vidence is admissible 

when the connection between unconstitutional police conduct and the evidence is 

remote or has been interrupted by some intervening circumstance, so that ‘the 

interest protected by the constitutional guarantee that has been violated would not 

be served by suppression of the evidence obtained.’” Id. (citation omitted). In 

Brown v. Illinois, 422 U.S. 590 (1975), the United States Supreme Court held that 

when determining whether the attenuation doctrine applies, a court should 
No. 2019AP435(D)

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examine three factors: (1) the temporal proximity between the unconstitutional 

conduct and the discovery of evidence; (2) the presence of intervening 

circumstances; and (3) the purpose and flagrancy of the official misconduct. Id. at 

604-05, see also Strieff, 579 U.S. at 239. 

¶36 The State contends that an attenuation analysis is unnecessary here 

and does not address the Brown attenuation factors. The Majority adopts this 

argument based on New York v. Harris, 495 U.S. 14 (1990), and Hudson v. 

Michigan, 547 U.S. 586 (2006). See Majority, ¶¶17-19. These cases, however, 

are distinguishable. Harris involved the scope of the exclusionary rule when the 

State seeks to use a statement made by the defendant outside his home after the 

defendant was arrested inside his home in violation of Payton v. New York, 445 

U.S. 573 (1980). See Harris, 495 U.S. at 21; State v. Felix, 2012 WI 36, ¶¶41, 51, 

339 Wis. 2d 670, 811 N.W.2d 775 (adopting “the Harris exception to the 

exclusionary rule for certain evidence obtained after a Payton violation” and 

stating that Harris “provides a narrow rule”). Hudson involved the scope of the 

exclusionary rule where the police committed a knock-and-announce violation. 

See id., 547 U.S. at 594, 599. Genous’s case does not involve either a Payton

violation or a knock-and-announce violation. 

¶37 The Majority notes that Harris and Hudson were cited in State v. 

Hogan, 2015 WI 76, 364 Wis. 2d 167, 868 N.W.2d 124. Majority, ¶18. Hogan

too is distinguishable. Hogan addressed whether an illegal detention tainted the 

defendant’s subsequent consent to search. Id., 364 Wis. 2d 167, ¶56. “Consent 

analysis proceeds under a distinct framework[.]” Id., ¶57. This case does not 

involve the voluntariness of a defendant’s statements given after illegal police 

activity. 
No. 2019AP435(D)

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¶38 In addition, in Hogan, our supreme court held that the illegal police 

activity did not taint the defendant’s subsequent consent to search because the stop 

was over at the time the defendant gave consent to search. Id., ¶¶68-69, 71. In 

contrast, here, the traffic stop was ongoing at the time the officers searched 

Genous’s shoes and socks, and then his car. There is no indication that the stop 

was over or that Genous was free to leave. 

¶39 Thus, given that Hudson, Harris, and Hogan are distinguishable, 

and in the absence of a development of an argument of the Brown attenuation 

factors by the State, I would conclude that the firearm found following the patdown should be suppressed. 

¶40 Finally, I disagree with the Majority’s conclusion that Genous has 

conceded the State’s argument. See Majority, ¶22. My review of Genous’s reply 

brief reflects that he addressed the State’s “but for” argument. Concessions should 

not be inferred lightly, especially in a case where a party has explicitly addressed 

an argument. 

¶41 Therefore, for the reasons stated above, I respectfully dissent.