Opinion ID: 3001217
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Hobbs’s Arrest

Text: Shortly thereafter, Oberle decided to arrest Hobbs for Hardges’s murder. On the morning of August 10, 2005, Oberle went to the Peoria Heights Police Department, where Hobbs’s parole officer told him that Hobbs was living at 1007 East Cox Street in Peoria Heights, Illinois, with his new girlfriend, Stephanie Turner. Oberle also reviewed a recent anonymous Crimestoppers report that stated that Hobbs was dealing drugs at the 1007 East Cox Street residence, and that Hobbs often used rental cars that he parked down the street from his residence. Oberle also reviewed a police report from July 14, 2005 filed by Hobbs and Turner that reported that their residence had been burglarized and that Contina Gray was the culprit. While Oberle was at the Peoria Heights Police Department, other police officers conducted surveillance on Hobbs’s residence. The officers discovered an Enterprise rental car parked one house down from Hobbs’s residence and that the car was rented by Turner. Around 11:45 a.m. on August 10, 2005, Oberle and another detective, Mark Lamb, took over the surveillance. No. 06-3371 5 Shortly after their arrival, Oberle and Lamb saw Hobbs leave his residence, walk to the rental car, and drive away. Oberle had learned during the course of his investigation that Hobbs’s driver’s license had been suspended. Oberle and Lamb followed Hobbs to a nearby pharmacy; when Hobbs parked, the officers pulled their car behind the rental car, and placed Hobbs under arrest for the murder of Jason Hardges.1 The officers noticed a white powdery substance on Hobbs’s hands, right arm, and the right side of his clothing, which they believed to be cocaine. The officers put Hobbs in the back of their car and returned to Hobbs’s car. They saw a small plastic bag and more white powdery substance on the driver’s seat, as well as on the backseat and floorboard on the driver’s side of the car. After the car was towed to the police station, it was determined that the white powdery substance was approximately 24 grams of cocaine.