Court Opinion

ID: 3145264
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 18:07:25.289647+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:55:05.796901
License: Public Domain

No. 2--08--0168   Filed: 2-24-10
______________________________________________________________________________

                                                IN THE

                                APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                              SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE                 ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
OF ILLINOIS,                            ) of Lake County.
                                        )
      Plaintiff-Appellee,               )
                                        )
v.                                      ) No. 07--CF--3558
                                        )
                                        ) Honorable
DEJUAN T. DAVIS, a/k/a Torize Davis,    ) Victoria A. Rossetti and
                                        ) Christopher R. Stride,
      Defendant-Appellant.              ) Judges, Presiding.
________________________________________________________________________________

        PRESIDING JUSTICE ZENOFF delivered the opinion of the court:

        On January 17, 2008, defendant, Dejuan T. Davis, also known as Torize Davis, was

convicted of two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver

(720 ILCS 570/401(a)(2)(A), (g) (West 2006)) and one count of unlawful possession of cannabis

with the intent to deliver (720 ILCS 550/5(d) (West 2006)). He was sentenced to 11 and 5 years'

imprisonment, respectively, on the two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with

the intent to deliver and 5 years' imprisonment on the count of unlawful possession of cannabis with

the intent to deliver, all to run concurrently. Defendant appeals, arguing (1) that the trial court erred

in denying his motion to suppress evidence and (2) that he is entitled to an additional day of credit

for the time he spent in presentencing custody. For the reasons that follow, we reverse.
No. 2--08--0168

                                         BACKGROUND

       On October 10, 2007, defendant was indicted on two counts of unlawful possession of a

controlled substance with the intent to deliver, one count of unlawful possession of cannabis with

the intent to deliver, and one count of aggravated battery. As amended, count I alleged that

defendant knowingly and unlawfully possessed, with the intent to deliver, more than 15 grams but

less than 100 grams of a substance containing cocaine, in violation of section 401(a)(2)(A) of the

Illinois Controlled Substances Act (720 ILCS 570/401(a)(2)(A) (West 2006)). As amended, count

II alleged that defendant knowingly and unlawfully possessed, with the intent to deliver, a substance

containing dextropropoxyphene, in violation of section 401(g) of the Illinois Controlled Substances

Act (720 ILCS 570/401(g) (West 2006)). Count III alleged that defendant knowingly possessed, with

the intent to deliver, more than 30 grams but less than 500 grams of a substance containing cannabis,

in violation of section 5(d) of the Cannabis Control Act (720 ILCS 550/5(d) (West 2006)). Count

IV alleged that defendant committed aggravated battery in that he knowingly caused bodily harm to

Stephanie Harrison while on a public way, in violation of section 12--4(b)(8) of the Criminal Code

of 1961 (720 ILCS 5/12--4(b)(8) (West 2006)).

       Defendant filed a motion to suppress evidence on October 17, 2007, seeking to suppress all

evidence and statements obtained as a result of the illegal entry into and search of defendant's

apartment.

       At the hearing on the motion to suppress, Deputy John Willer of the Lake County sheriff's

office testified as follows. Early in the afternoon on September 16, 2007, Willer responded to a call

to assist Deputy Forlenza regarding a traffic altercation in the area of Academy and Academy Court

in Lake Villa, Illinois. Upon arrival, Willer spoke to Stephanie Harrison, who informed him that

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No. 2--08--0168

while she was driving, Nicole Shatley, Shatley's boyfriend Geezie (defendant), and an unknown

black male began to follow her in a car. Harrison told Willer that she owed Shatley and defendant

money for drugs. Following a short chase, Harrison was cornered by the three and they began to

attack her through the windows of her vehicle. According to Harrison, Shatley punched her in the

head, while defendant and the other man punched her about her body.

       Harrison described Shatley to Willer as a white female with blonde hair, who worked at a

local gas station. She described defendant as a black male, but she did not know his real name.

Harrison was able to describe the other man only as a young, black male in his early to mid-twenties.

Willer knew Shatley and defendant, because he had often stopped, while on patrol, at the gas station

where Shatley worked. Willer knew defendant to be the father of Shatley's child, and Willer had

often seen defendant with Shatley at the gas station. Harrison also provided Willer with the location

of Shatley's apartment in Antioch, Illinois. Harrison informed Willer that one could go to Shatley's

apartment at any time of day or night to purchase any sort of illegal drug, including cocaine.

       Willer, accompanied by some Antioch police officers and Lake County sheriff's deputies,

proceeded to Shatley's apartment, which was located above a business. When he arrived, the

windows of the apartment were open and, while standing on the sidewalk underneath one of the

windows, he was able to hear two black males speaking to a female. Willer attempted to open the

door to the stairs that led to the apartment, but the door was locked.

       While Willer was speaking with the other officers, Shatley, accompanied by an older black

female, exited through the locked door. The woman with Shatley was later identified as defendant's

mother. Willer approached Shatley, explained he was there investigating a battery, and asked where

defendant was. Shatley told Willer that he was upstairs in the apartment. Shatley was then put in

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No. 2--08--0168

handcuffs, advised that she was being detained because she was under investigation for battery, and

placed in the back of a squad car. Defendant's mother took out her cell phone to make a phone call,

but Willer stopped her. Defendant's mother then became involved in an argument with Willer and

the Antioch officers.

       While defendant's mother continued to argue with the Antioch officers, Willer entered the

staircase through the door, which an unknown individual had propped open with a newspaper, and

proceeded upstairs to a common hallway shared by the two apartments located in the building.

Shatley never told him that he did not have permission to enter the building or her apartment.

       Willer testified that while standing in the hallway outside Shatley's apartment, he heard

through the door a black male saying, "What, Nicole, police. I will be right there." The door to the

apartment then opened and Willer saw defendant. Willer identified defendant as this man. When

defendant saw Willer at the door, his eyes widened, his jaw dropped, and he immediately turned and

attempted to run from Willer. Defendant was able to take about half a step before Willer stepped

into the apartment, grabbed him, and handcuffed him. At the time he grabbed defendant, Willer was

approximately four feet inside the threshold of the apartment. At the time Willer entered the

apartment, neither Shatley nor defendant had given him permission to enter.

       As Willer was handcuffing defendant, he observed another black male run to the right side

of the apartment and into what was later discovered to be a bedroom. Willer heard a door close, but

did not see exactly where the man ran. Willer also observed some children in the apartment and a

woman in her mid-twenties to early thirties, later identified as Latonia Tyler, defendant's sister. Once

defendant was handcuffed, Willer passed custody of defendant to another officer.

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No. 2--08--0168

       When he turned around, Willer was confronted by Tyler, who asked Willer what he was

doing there, told him to get out, and attempted to physically push Willer out of the apartment. Willer

then handcuffed Tyler, sat her on the couch, and, in search of the black male he had seen, proceeded

to the only bedroom that had a closed door. Willer described the apartment as consisting of a

kitchen, bathroom, living room, and two bedrooms. The bathroom was located right next to the front

door, with the kitchen just beyond it. The living room was one large room to the right of the front

door. Off of the living room were two bedrooms. Willer observed that the door to the master

bedroom was open.

       As he approached the closed bedroom door, Willer called for the man to come out but

received no response. Willer then drew his weapon because he was unsure of what would happen

when he opened the door. Willer opened the door and, as he walked in, noticed a black male, mostly

covered by bedding, lying on the bottom bunk of a set of bunk beds. Willer handcuffed the man, and

as he proceeded out of the bedroom, looked into the open master bedroom. Willer observed a digital

scale with white powder on it on top of a dresser in the master bedroom.

       After walking the man out of the apartment building, Willer went to speak to Shatley.

Shatley was seated in the back of one of the squad cars. Willer read Shatley the Miranda warnings,

told her that he had seen a scale with white powder in the master bedroom, and asked for her consent

to search the apartment. Shatley consented to a search of the apartment.

       During the search of the apartment, Willer located and seized a loaded 9-millimeter handgun

with two extra magazines; the digital scale he originally observed; the white powder he originally

observed, which field-tested positive for the presence of cocaine; approximately 100 grams of a

brown rock-like substance, which field-tested positive for the presence of cocaine; cannabis; a pill

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No. 2--08--0168

bottle with approximately 59 pills, which field-tested positive for hydrocortisone; and a pill bottle

containing about 85 to 87 prescription pills.

       During Willer's testimony, a video recording of the conversation between Willer and Shatley,

during which Shatley consented to the search of the apartment, was played. Upon entering the squad

car, Willer read Shatley the Miranda warnings, which she indicated she understood. He then

informed her that he had observed a scale with cocaine on it and that he would try to get a search

warrant for her apartment based upon what he had seen and what Harrison had told him occurred in

the apartment. Willer informed Shatley that unless she explained to him what was in the apartment,

she would be charged with anything he found pursuant to a search warrant. Willer then asked

Shatley for consent to search her apartment and to seize anything illegal in it. In return for her

consent, Willer promised not to charge or take her to jail that night. When Shatley indicated her

concern about being charged in the future, Willer told her that he could not promise that she would

or would not be charged in the future, but that someone needed to care for the children in the

apartment (later identified as Tyler's children). At one point during the conversation, an unidentified

male (who did not appear on screen) told Shatley that there was an easy way and a hard way, and that

the hard way involved calling the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for the

children in the apartment. After Willer assured Shatley that Tyler would be released later that

evening, Shatley consented to the search of the apartment.

       Shatley testified as follows. Defendant was her boyfriend and the father of her child. He

lived with her in the apartment in Antioch, although only her name appeared on the lease. On

September 16, 2007, Shatley, defendant's mother, and Tyler's son exited Shatley's apartment building

to go grocery shopping. After exiting the building, Shatley saw three police officers, including

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No. 2--08--0168

Willer, whom she recognized from the gas station where she worked. Willer grabbed her,

handcuffed her, and asked where her apartment was and where defendant was. Shatley did not

respond to Willer's questions. Willer walked Shatley toward the door of her apartment building until

he noticed that the door was not shut all the way. At that point, Willer pushed open the door and

proceeded up the stairs, leaving Shatley outside. As he did so, Shatley told him that he could not go

into her apartment.

       Shatley was left at the bottom of the stairs, from which she could see the door to her

apartment open and defendant step into the hallway. The officer who was with Shatley ran up the

stairs at that point, leaving Shatley completely alone outside. Shatley observed the officers handcuff

defendant and heard defendant yell at the officers that they could not go into the apartment.

Defendant yelled Shatley's name and Shatley yelled again that the officers could not go into her

apartment. Defendant was then brought down the stairs, and Shatley was placed in a squad car.

       After approximately 10 to 15 minutes, Willer came to the police car and requested Shatley's

consent to search the apartment. Willer told her that he had found a scale with a white substance on

the dresser and that he would get a warrant if she did not give him permission to search the

apartment. He also told her that everyone was being arrested and that he was going to call DCFS

to take Tyler's children. In addition, Willer informed her that if she gave him consent to search the

apartment, he would not charge her that day and would not call DCFS. Shatley then gave him

permission to search the apartment. She was never charged in the matter.

       Tyler's testimony was as follows. She was defendant's sister. On September 16, 2007, she

and two of her children were at defendant's apartment, which he shared with Shatley. In the

apartment on that day were Tyler, Shatley, defendant, Tyler's two children, Tyler's and defendant's

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No. 2--08--0168

mother, and Tyler's cousin Edward Davis.1 Defendant received a phone call from their mother, after

which defendant informed Tyler that the police were there. Defendant and Tyler went to the door

of the apartment. Tyler opened the apartment door and standing right outside the door was a police

officer. Defendant stepped outside the apartment, and the officer then grabbed defendant, threw him

against the wall, threw him onto the floor, and then put handcuffs on him. Defendant was outside

the apartment in the hallway at this point.

       After being handcuffed, defendant told Tyler to shut the door, which Tyler attempted to do,

but she was prevented from shutting the door completely when the officer put his foot in the door

and told her not to close it. Tyler told the officer that he did not have permission to enter. The

officer asked Tyler who was present in the apartment and Tyler responded that she and her children

were present. The officer told Tyler to go sit down, but then grabbed her arm, pushed her into the

wall, and entered the apartment. Tyler informed the officer that she was going to press charges

against him, at which point the officer placed her under arrest for pushing him.

       Edward Davis was in a bedroom when the police came to the door, and he did not leave the

bedroom at any point while defendant was being arrested.

       Deantrius Colman, Tyler's son, who was 10 years old at the time of the hearing, testified as

follows. On September 16, 2007, he was in the living room of Shatley and defendant's apartment,

playing a game. When the police arrived, defendant opened the apartment door. Tyler was sitting

on the couch when defendant opened the door. At some point, Tyler attempted to shut the door, but

the police officer put his foot in the door, grabbed Tyler's arm, pushed Tyler, and then placed her in

       1
           At times in the record, Edward Davis is also referred to as Edward Jones.

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No. 2--08--0168

handcuffs. Edward Davis was in a bedroom when the police arrived and did not leave the bedroom

until he was taken out by police.

       Dazyir Colman, Tyler's daughter, who was eight years old at the time of the hearing, testified

next. On September 16, 2007, she was at defendant's apartment when the police came to the door.

Tyler opened the door. The police grabbed defendant and put him in handcuffs while he was in the

hallway, after which the police entered the apartment, pushed Tyler into the wall, and placed Tyler

under arrest. Edward Davis was sleeping in a bedroom with the door closed at the time he was

placed under arrest.

       Following arguments, the trial court denied defendant's motion to suppress, finding that

neither Shatley nor defendant told Willer that he could not enter the apartment and that once

defendant, Shatley, and Tyler were placed in custody, it was necessary for the officers to enter the

apartment because the children could not be left alone with the unknown person Willer had seen run

across the apartment. In addition, the trial court noted that Willer had information that drugs were

being dealt from the apartment. The trial court found Shatley's consent to have been given

voluntarily and that Shatley would have given consent based solely on the drug-dealing information

the police obtained from Harrison, thus making applicable the inevitable-discovery doctrine.

       Prior to trial, the State nol-prossed count IV (aggravated battery).

       At trial, Deputy John Forlenza of the Lake County sheriff's office testified that he was present

at the scene of the incident involving Harrison and when Willer searched defendant's apartment.

Sarah Effinger, a forensic scientist with the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Laboratory,

testified that the substances seized during the search of defendant's apartment tested positive for

cocaine, cannabis, and dextropropoxyphene.

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No. 2--08--0168

        Willer also testified at trial. His testimony was largely consistent with the testimony he gave

during the hearing on the motion to suppress. He further testified that following his search of

defendant's apartment, he explained to defendant all of the items he had recovered and asked

defendant who owned those items. He testified that defendant stated that all of the items, with the

exception of the gun, belonged to him (defendant). Willer also testified that after transporting

defendant to the sheriff's office, defendant gave the following written statement:

        "To whom it may concern[:] My name is Torize Davis and I'm writing this statement to

        inform you the controled [sic] substance found in the room dresser was mine also the canibus

        [sic] found in the kitchen & in the bedroom drawer. The owner of the gun is Nichole [sic]

        Shatley & she has her foild [sic] card. I touched the gun on different occasion[s]. The gun

        was bought at Bass Pro Shop. The 2 bottles of Vilodin [sic] pills in the kitchen drawer are

        mine also."

        Following the jury trial, defendant was convicted on the three remaining counts. The trial

court denied defendant's motion for a new trial and sentenced defendant to 11 years' imprisonment

on count I, 5 years' imprisonment on count II, and 5 years' imprisonment on count III, all to run

concurrently. The trial court denied defendant's motion to reconsider the sentence, and defendant

appealed.2

                                             ANALYSIS

        2
            This appeal was previously dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, but on May 7, 2009, the

Illinois Supreme Court ordered that the appeal be reinstated and defendant's notice of appeal be

treated as validly filed.

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No. 2--08--0168

       Defendant first argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress. According

to defendant, Willer's entry into the apartment to arrest defendant was illegal because the entry was

warrantless, nonconsensual, and not justified by exigent circumstances. Defendant further contends

that Shatley's consent to search the apartment was involuntary because Willer promised not to take

Shatley to jail that evening if she consented and because Willer confronted Shatley with the scale

and white powder he had seen following his unlawful entry into the apartment. Defendant argues

that because Shatley's consent was involuntary, the evidence found during the search pursuant to

Shatley's consent and the statements defendant made after being confronted with that evidence

should have been suppressed. The State responds that Willer's entry into the apartment was justified

because Willer was in "hot pursuit" of defendant, that Shatley's consent was voluntary, and that, thus,

the trial court correctly refused to suppress defendant's statements and the evidence seized during

the search of the apartment. The State also argues that even if Shatley's consent was involuntary, the

evidence located during the search inevitably would have been discovered. We agree with

defendant's analysis.

       In reviewing the trial court's determination on a motion to suppress, we will reverse the trial

court's determinations of historical fact only if they are against the manifest weight of the evidence.

People v. Pitman, 211 Ill. 2d 502, 512 (2004). We remain free, however, to independently assess

the facts in relation to the issues presented and to draw our own conclusions as to what relief should

be granted; thus, we review de novo the ultimate question of whether the evidence should be

suppressed. Pitman, 211 Ill. 2d at 512.

       We first examine whether Willer's entry into defendant's apartment was lawful. The chief

evil against which the fourth amendment to the United States Constitution is directed is the physical

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No. 2--08--0168

entry of the home. Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573, 585, 63 L. Ed. 2d 639, 650, 100 S. Ct. 1371,

1379 (1980); People v. Wear, 229 Ill. 2d 545, 562 (2008). Thus, the fourth amendment "has drawn

a firm line at the entrance to the house" (Payton, 445 U.S. at 590, 63 L. Ed. 2d at 653, 100 S. Ct. at

1382), and warrantless searches and seizures inside a home are presumptively unreasonable (Payton,
445 U.S. at 586, 63 L. Ed. 2d at 651, 100 S. Ct. at 1380; Wear, 229 Ill. 2d at 562). Accordingly,

absent exigent circumstances, police may not enter a private residence to make a warrantless search

or arrest. Payton, 445 U.S. at 590, 63 L. Ed. 2d at 653, 100 S. Ct. at 1382; People v. Foskey, 136
Ill. 2d 66, 74 (1990). The State bears the burden of demonstrating exigent circumstances

necessitating a warrantless search or arrest. Foskey, 136 Ill. 2d at 75.

       In reviewing the propriety of a warrantless entry into a private residence under claimed

exigent circumstances, the guiding principle is reasonableness, and each case must be decided on

its own facts. Foskey, 136 Ill. 2d at 75-76. Some of the factors that may be considered in

determining whether exigent circumstances existed justifying the warrantless entry into a private

residence to effectuate an arrest include the following:

               "(1) whether the offense under investigation was recently committed; (2) whether

       there was any deliberate or unjustifiable delay by the officers during which time a warrant

       could have been obtained; (3) whether a grave offense is involved, particularly one of

       violence; (4) whether the suspect was reasonably believed to be armed; (5) whether the

       police officers were acting upon a clear showing of probable cause; (6) whether there was

       a likelihood that the suspect would have escaped if not swiftly apprehended; (7) whether

       there was strong reason to believe that the suspect was on the premises; and (8) whether the

       police entry, though nonconsensual, was made peaceably." Foskey, 136 Ill. 2d at 75.

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No. 2--08--0168

This list is not exhaustive, nor are the factors included in it cardinal maxims that are to be applied

rigidly in each case. People v. Johnson, 368 Ill. App. 3d 1073, 1084 (2006). Rather, the totality of

the circumstances facing the officers at the time of the entry must be considered and, based on those

circumstances, it must be determined whether the officers acted reasonably. Foskey, 136 Ill. 2d at

75. "The circumstances must militate against delay and justify the officers' decision to proceed

without a warrant." Foskey, 136 Ill. 2d at 75.

       In this case, it is undisputed that Willer had neither a warrant nor consent to enter the

apartment. Our review of the record reveals that there did not exist exigent circumstances to justify

Willer's entry into the apartment to arrest defendant for the battery committed against Harrison. The

evidence presented by the State at the hearing on the motion to suppress does not support a finding

of exigent circumstances because it does not suggest an immediacy or real threat of current danger

or likelihood of flight. See Foskey, 136 Ill. 2d at 84 (reversing the trial court's determination that

exigent circumstances justified the warrantless arrest of the defendant in the defendant's home where

"the facts known to the police at the time they arrested the defendant certainly did not suggest the

immediacy and real threat of current danger or likelihood of flight that was present in other cases

where warrantless searches have been held valid"). Nor do the circumstances of this case indicate

that the delay involved in obtaining an arrest warrant for defendant would have impeded the

investigation or the apprehension of defendant. See People v. Klimek, 101 Ill. App. 3d 1, 6-7 (1981)

(concluding that the warrantless entry was unjustified, in part because the delay involved in obtaining

a warrant would not have impeded the investigation or prevented the apprehension of the defendant);

People v. Wilson, 86 Ill. App. 3d 637, 643 (1980) (determining that no exigent circumstances existed

to justify the warrantless arrest of the defendant in his hotel room where there was no indication that

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No. 2--08--0168

the delay associated with obtaining a warrant would have impeded the apprehension of the

defendant).

       The offense for which Willer sought to arrest defendant--the battery of Harrison--certainly

involved a form of violence in that defendant allegedly punched Harrison. Nothing in the record

indicates, however, that this offense was particularly grave; there was no evidence that as a result

of the alleged battery Harrison suffered any sort of injury, sought medical treatment, or was in any

way hindered in performing her normal activities. In addition, the police had no reason to believe

that defendant was armed or otherwise posed a threat to the police or others; no evidence was

presented that the police suspected defendant was armed, that a weapon was involved in the battery

of Harrison, or that the police knew whether defendant had a particularly violent history. Moreover,

no evidence was presented indicating that defendant was likely to flee unless he was swiftly

apprehended. The State presented no evidence that defendant knew or was likely to be aware that

Harrison had called the police and that the police were on the way to his apartment. See Foskey, 136
Ill. 2d at 79-80 (the defendant did not pose a flight risk where there was no evidence that the

defendant or any of the other suspects knew or were aware that they were in immediate danger of

being arrested); People v. Galdine, 212 Ill. App. 3d 472, 483 (1991) (where there was no evidence

that the defendant was aware the drug buyer was an informant or that his suspicions were aroused

by the buyer's departure from the scene of the drug deal, the defendant did not pose a flight risk);

People v. Day, 165 Ill. App. 3d 266, 268 (1988) (where the defendant was unaware of the police

activity, his immediate apprehension was not necessary to prevent his flight).

       While it is true that defendant's arrest occurred in close temporal proximity to the battery of

Harrison, that the police did not engage in any unjustifiable delay, that the police had probable cause

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No. 2--08--0168

to arrest defendant, that the police had reason to believe defendant was in the apartment, and that the

police entered the apartment peaceably, we are not persuaded that these circumstances, without

more, necessitated prompt action by the police in the form of a warrantless entry and arrest. That

the police acted quickly in locating defendant and had probable cause to arrest him did not obviate

the need to obtain a warrant where there was no immediate and clear danger to the police or others.

See Galdine, 212 Ill. App. 3d at 483 (observing that an exigency is not created simply because there

exists probable cause to believe the defendant committed a serious crime and holding that exigent

circumstances did not exist where there was no immediate danger to the police or to the informant

and where the defendant was not a flight risk); Klimek, 101 Ill. App. 3d at 6 (emphasizing that "the

mere fact that the officers did not hesitate between the time of the complaint and their forcible entry

does not render void the necessity of obtaining a warrant" and holding that exigent circumstances

did not exist because "a delay in obtaining a warrant would not have jeopardized the apprehension

of the defendant or hindered any police investigation").

       This case is similar to Day. There, the defendant sought to suppress evidence discovered

following a warrantless entry into his apartment by the police, but the trial court denied the

defendant's motion to suppress. Day, 165 Ill. App. 3d at 267. The Fourth District reversed, holding

that exigent circumstances did not exist to justify the warrantless entry into the defendant's

apartment. Day, 165 Ill. App. 3d at 268. The factors that weighed in the State's favor, in addition

to an informant's identification of the defendant as the offender, were that the officers acted quickly

and without unjustifiable delay, there was good reason to believe the defendant was on the premises,

and the officers entered peaceably. Day, 165 Ill. App. 3d at 268-69. The Fourth District observed,

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however, that "[t]o hold these factors alone sufficient to justify a warrantless entry and arrest would

all but emasculate the protection afforded by the fourth amendment." Day, 165 Ill. App. 3d at 269.

       Similarly, were we to hold that exigent circumstances existed justifying the warrantless entry

and arrest in the present case, police could avoid the warrant requirement of the fourth amendment

so long as they quickly and accurately tracked a defendant to a private residence and entered in a

peaceful manner. To do so would all but eliminate the exigent-circumstances requirement that

Payton imposed upon warrantless arrests.

       The State contends that Willer's entry into defendant's apartment was justified under the

doctrine of "hot pursuit." In addition to the exigent-circumstances exception to the warrant

requirement of the fourth amendment discussed above, police also may enter a private residence

without a warrant to effectuate the arrest of a fleeing suspect of whom the police are in "hot pursuit."

United States v. Santana, 427 U.S. 38, 42-43, 49 L. Ed. 2d 300, 305, 96 S. Ct. 2406, 2409-10 (1976);

Wear, 229 Ill. 2d at 563. Under the hot-pursuit doctrine, "a suspect may not defeat an arrest which

has been set in motion in a public place, and is therefore proper under [United States v. Watson, 423
U.S. 411, 46 L. Ed. 2d 598, 96 S. Ct. 820 (1976)], by the expedient of escaping to a private place."

Santana, 427 U.S. at 43, 49 L. Ed. 2d at 306, 96 S. Ct. at 2410.

       In Santana, the police, who had probable cause to arrest the defendant, proceeded to the

defendant's house, where they found the defendant standing in the doorway. Santana, 427 U.S. at

40, 49 L. Ed. 2d at 304, 96 S. Ct. at 2408. According to the testimony of one of the officers, the

defendant "was standing directly in the doorway--one step forward would have put her outside, one

step backward would have put her in the vestibule of her residence." Santana, 427 U.S. at 40 n.1,
49 L. Ed. 2d at 304 n.1, 96 S. Ct. at 2408 n.1. Upon arriving, the police identified themselves, and

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No. 2--08--0168

the defendant then retreated into her house. The police followed her into the house, capturing her

in the vestibule and placing her under arrest. Santana, 427 U.S. at 40, 49 L. Ed. 2d at 304, 96 S. Ct.

at 2408.

        The Supreme Court noted that under Watson, where probable cause exists, police may

effectuate a warrantless arrest on a person in public without violating the fourth amendment.

Santana, 427 U.S. at 42, 49 L. Ed. 2d at 305, 96 S. Ct. at 2409. The Court also observed that when

the police initially attempted to arrest the defendant, she was standing in the doorway of her house,

neither inside nor outside the house. Santana, 427 U.S. at 42, 49 L. Ed. 2d at 305, 96 S. Ct. at 2409.

The Court concluded that the defendant was in public for purposes of the fourth amendment, because

she "was not merely visible to the public but was as exposed to public view, speech, hearing, and

touch as if she had been standing completely outside her house." Santana, 427 U.S. at 42, 49 L. Ed.
2d at 305, 96 S. Ct. at 2409. Thus, the officers, at the time they initiated the arrest of the defendant,

sought to effectuate an arrest in accordance with the procedures approved in Watson, and the Court

held that the defendant could not thwart that lawful arrest by retreating into her private residence.

Santana, 427 U.S. at 42, 49 L. Ed. 2d at 305, 96 S. Ct. at 2409.

        The doctrine of hot pursuit is inapplicable here, as defendant was never in public. Willer's

testimony, which the trial court apparently credited, indicates that once the door to the apartment

opened, defendant did not step outside the apartment and into the hallway. Rather, Willer's

testimony indicates that immediately upon the door opening and defendant's seeing Willer in the

hallway, defendant attempted to retreat further into the apartment.3 The fact that the warrantless

        3
            Even if defendant had been standing in the doorway of his apartment rather than inside it,

the present case would be significantly distinguishable from Santana, as defendant's apartment door

                                                  -17-
No. 2--08--0168

arrest of defendant was initiated while defendant was inside his apartment rather than in public is

significant because the hot-pursuit doctrine as defined in Santana is based on the determination that

a defendant should not be able to "thwart an otherwise proper arrest" (emphasis added) (Santana, 427
U.S. at 42, 49 L. Ed. 2d at 305, 96 S. Ct. at 2409) by retreating into a private residence. Warrantless

arrests based on only probable cause and instituted while the defendant is in public are "otherwise

proper" under Watson. In contrast, warrantless arrests based on only probable cause and instituted

while the defendant is in his or her private residence are not "otherwise proper." See Payton, 445

U.S. at 590, 63 L. Ed. 2d at 653, 100 S. Ct. at 1382. Thus, defendant's attempted retreat to the back

of the apartment did not thwart an "otherwise proper arrest," because the arrest of defendant would

not have been proper at the time it was initiated, given that defendant was inside the apartment at

that time.

       The State fails to address the fact that defendant was never in public and the impact of that

fact upon the application of the hot-pursuit doctrine. Rather, the State focuses on the fact that Willer

had probable cause to arrest defendant. Whether Willer had probable cause is irrelevant in the

present case, because, as discussed, defendant did not thwart an "otherwise proper arrest" by

retreating further into the apartment; probable cause alone was insufficient to make a proper

warrantless arrest of defendant while he was inside his private residence.

opened into a hallway that was accessible only to the residents and landlord of the two apartments

in the building and that was not open to the public. Thus, unlike the defendant in Santana, if

defendant stood directly in the doorway of his apartment, he would not be exposed to public view,

speech, hearing, and touch as he would be if he were outside.

                                                 -18-
No. 2--08--0168

       Having determined that Willer's entry into defendant's apartment to effectuate the warrantless

arrest of defendant was unlawful, we must now determine what effect that unlawful entry had upon

Willer's discovery of the scale and white powder in the master bedroom. While the scale and white

powder were readily visible to Willer as he exited the apartment with the unidentified male who was

in the other bedroom, that fact alone is not determinative of whether Willer was legally entitled to

seize those items. Under the plain-view doctrine, an officer may legally seize an item without a

warrant where (1) the officer did not violate the fourth amendment in arriving at the place from

which the item is plainly viewed, (2) the item is in plain view and its incriminating nature is

immediately apparent, and (3) the officer has a lawful right of access to the object itself. Horton v.

California, 496 U.S. 128, 136-37, 110 L. Ed. 2d 112, 123, 110 S. Ct. 2301, 2308 (1990). The

question in the present case is whether Willer was lawfully in the place from which he viewed the

scale and white powder. The State argues that he was, because he was entitled to conduct a

protective sweep of the apartment when he saw the unidentified male running into a bedroom while

Willer was handcuffing defendant. We disagree.

       A protective sweep is a "quick and limited search of premises, incident to an arrest and

conducted to protect the safety of police officers and others," and is limited to a cursory visual

inspection of places in which a person may hide. Maryland v. Buie, 494 U.S. 325, 327, 108 L. Ed.
2d 276, 281, 110 S. Ct. 1093, 1094 (1990). Such a sweep may be conducted, however, only where

the "searching officer possesses a reasonable belief based on specific and articulable facts that the

area to be swept harbors an individual posing a danger to those on the arrest scene." Buie, 494 U.S.

at 337, 108 L. Ed. 2d at 288, 110 S. Ct. at 1099-1100.

                                                -19-
No. 2--08--0168

       We conclude that in this case, the "protective sweep" Willer conducted may not serve as legal

justification for Willer's presence in the place from which he viewed the scale and white powder,

because Willer's initial entry into defendant’s apartment was unlawful. Although no Illinois court

has directly addressed whether evidence is legally observed or seized when it is discovered during

a protective sweep conducted following an illegal entry by police, the Fourth District, in People v.

Bosse, 238 Ill. App. 3d 1008 (1992), implicitly held that a protective sweep may not independently

justify the observation of evidence in plain view where the initial entry was unlawful. In Bosse,

police officers proceeded to the defendant's apartment after the defendant had fled from an officer.

The defendant answered the door when the police knocked and, upon one of the officers' request to

enter the apartment, the defendant stepped back. The police then entered. After securing the

defendant, an officer conducted a protective sweep of the apartment, during which he observed in

plain view a plastic bag that appeared to contain cannabis and a "bong" containing cannabis. The

officer then placed the defendant under arrest for possession of cannabis and informed the defendant

that a search warrant would be obtained and a dog used to search the apartment. The defendant then

gave the officer consent to search the apartment. During the subsequent search, the police

discovered additional cannabis and drug paraphernalia. Bosse, 238 Ill. App. 3d at 1010-12. The trial

court granted the defendant's motion to suppress the evidence discovered in the defendant's

apartment. Bosse, 238 Ill. App. 3d at 1009.

       On appeal, the State argued that the order granting the motion to suppress should be reversed

because (1) the defendant consented to the entry of his apartment by the police, and (2) the police

conducted a lawful protective sweep of the defendant's apartment. Bosse, 238 Ill. App. 3d at 1016.

The Fourth District held that it was not required to address the legality of the protective sweep

                                               -20-
No. 2--08--0168

because it affirmed the trial court's finding that the police did not have consent to make their initial

warrantless entry into the defendant's apartment and the State offered no other justification for the

officers' entry. Bosse, 238 Ill. App. 3d at 1016. By so holding, the Fourth District implied that

where the initial entry into a defendant's residence is unlawful, a protective sweep may not serve as

legal justification for the discovery of evidence in plain view.

       In addition to Bosse, several other states and federal circuits require police to enter the

premises lawfully before the protective-sweep doctrine may be invoked. See United States v.

Martins, 413 F.3d 139, 150 (1st Cir. 2005) ("We hold, therefore, that police who have lawfully

entered a residence possess the same right to conduct a protective sweep whether an arrest warrant,

a search warrant, or the existence of exigent circumstances prompts their entry" (emphasis added));

United States v. Gould, 364 F.3d 578, 587 (5th Cir. 2004) (requiring that "the police must not have

entered (or remained in) the home illegally and their presence within it must be for a legitimate law

enforcement purpose"); United States v. Patrick, 959 F.2d 991, 996 (D.C. Cir. 1992) ("Once the

police were lawfully on the premises, they were authorized to conduct a protective sweep based on

their reasonable belief that one of its inhabitants was trafficking in narcotics" (emphasis added));

State v. Stover, No. COA09-229, slip op. at 15 (N.C. App. November 3, 2009) ("Because the officers

legally entered defendant's house and saw the evidence seized in plain view during their protective

sweep, the trial court did not err in admitting that evidence"); State v. Lane, 393 N.J. Super. 132,

155, 922 A.2d 828, 841 (2007) ("Fundamental to determining the legitimacy of a protective sweep

is the notion that the police may not illegally enter or remain in the area in which the sweep is

performed"); People v. Beuschlein, 245 Mich. App. 744, 757, 630 N.W.2d 921, 929 (2001) ("Having

already established the legality of the officers' entry without a warrant into defendant’s mobile home,

                                                 -21-
No. 2--08--0168

the ensuing protective sweep of the premises, after defendant was handcuffed, was likewise

permissible").

       We also observe that in every published Illinois case upholding a protective sweep, the

officers' presence on the premises was lawful. See, e.g., People v. Free, 94 Ill. 2d 378, 392 (1983)

(officers at defendant's home pursuant to an arrest warrant); People v. Harris, 297 Ill. App. 3d 1073,

1083 (1998) (warrantless entry justified by exigent circumstances); People v. Pierini, 278 Ill. App.
3d 974, 979 (1996) (warrantless entry justified by exigent circumstances); People v. Coleman, 194
Ill. App. 3d 336, 341 (1990) (lawful entry of residence pursuant to arrest warrant).

       Further, we believe that to allow a protective sweep to legitimize the discovery of evidence

in plain view where the initial entry was unlawful would be to legitimize the discovery of the

evidence on circumstances directly attributable to the officers' illegal entry. For example, in the

present case, the protective sweep conducted by Willer was necessitated solely by the officers' illegal

entry into defendant's apartment, because Willer and the other officers were exposed to the danger

posed by the unidentified male only because they illegally entered defendant's apartment. Had Willer

seen the scale and white powder following the illegal entry but not during a protective sweep, such

evidence would not have been admissible under the plain-view doctrine, as Willer legally would not

have been in the place from which he viewed the items. See Klimek, 101 Ill. App. 3d at 6 (where

warrantless entry was not justified by exigent circumstances, plain-view doctrine did not apply).

Thus, were we to hold that the scale and white powder were legally discovered during Willer's

protective sweep, which was made necessary exclusively due to the officers' earlier illegal entry, law

enforcement could circumvent fourth amendment restrictions on the use of evidence following illegal

entries into private residences, so long as the circumstances existing inside the residence into which

                                                 -22-
No. 2--08--0168

the officers chose to illegally enter posed a sufficient danger to the officers' safety. We believe such

a result to be absurd and out of line with fourth amendment jurisprudence requiring the exclusion

of evidence obtained either directly or indirectly as a result of unlawful police activity. See Wong

Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 484-85, 9 L. Ed. 2d 441, 453-54, 83 S. Ct. 407, 416 (1963).

       As Willer was not legally entitled to conduct a protective sweep because he was not lawfully

on the premises, he was not legally present in the place from which he viewed the scale and white

powder. Therefore, the plain-view doctrine does not apply, making Willer's discovery of the scale

and white powder illegal. See Klimek, 101 Ill. App. 3d at 6 (where officer not lawfully within the

residence, the plain-view doctrine did not apply).

       Given our conclusion that Willer's discovery of the scale and white powder was unlawful,

the question becomes whether Willer's use of that evidence in obtaining Shatley's consent to search

the apartment had the effect of vitiating the voluntariness of Shatley's consent. We conclude that it

did. Voluntary consent to search is an exception to the fourth amendment's warrant requirement.

People v. Kratovil, 351 Ill. App. 3d 1023, 1030 (2004). To be effective, however, the consent must

be voluntary, meaning that it was given "absent any coercion, express or implied," and was not "the

result of official coercion, intimidation, or deception." Kratovil, 351 Ill. App. 3d at 1030. The

voluntariness of consent depends on the totality of the circumstances, and the State bears the burden

of demonstrating that consent was voluntarily given. Kratovil, 351 Ill. App. 3d at 1030.

       Where an officer communicates his intent to engage in a certain course of conduct, that

communication does not vitiate a person's consent to search, so long as the officer has actual grounds

for carrying out the intended course of conduct. Kratovil, 351 Ill. App. 3d at 1031; see also People

v. Graf, 265 Ill. App. 3d 746, 750-51 (1994) ("a police officer making a groundless threat and

                                                 -23-
No. 2--08--0168

presenting the occupant with the choice of either consenting or suffering the consequences of the

threatened course of conduct can serve to vitiate that person's consent"); People v. Griffin, 158 Ill.

App. 3d 46, 52 (1987) (where the officer had no grounds to obtain a search warrant other than the

items seen following the officer's illegal entry, the threat of obtaining a search warrant could not

lawfully be employed). An officer's giving of false or misleading information can also vitiate the

voluntariness of the consent. People v. Cardenas, 237 Ill. App. 3d 584, 588 (1992). Consent is

involuntary where it is solely the result of acquiescence or submission to the assertion of lawful

police authority. Cardenas, 237 Ill. App. 3d at 588; see also People v. Clark Memorial Home, 114
Ill. App. 2d 249, 253-54 (1969) (consent involuntary where the officers illegally entered the

premises, viewed illegal gambling equipment due to the illegal entry, and told the consenting party

that the police had been informed of additional gambling equipment). Consent is also involuntary

where it is " 'inextricably bound up with illegal conduct and cannot be segregated therefrom.' "

People v. Freeman, 121 Ill. App. 3d 1023, 1032 (1984), quoting People v. Kelly, 76 Ill. App. 3d 80,

86 (1979); see also People v. Gott, 346 Ill. App. 3d 236, 248 (2004) (consent involuntary where it

was inextricably bound up with the illegal entry by the officers); Griffin, 158 Ill. App. 3d at 52

(consent involuntary where the police exploited the prior illegal search).

       After reviewing the record, specifically the video recording of the conversation in which

Willer elicited Shatley's consent to search the apartment, we conclude that the trial court's finding

that Shatley's consent was voluntary was erroneous because Willer's illegal entry and resulting illegal

discovery of the scale and white powder were so "inextricably bound up" with Shatley's consent that

they cannot be segregated, and because Willer's groundless threat to obtain a search warrant resulted

in Shatley's consent being solely a product of Willer's assertion of lawful authority. Immediately

                                                 -24-
No. 2--08--0168

after giving Shatley the Miranda warnings, Willer confronted her with his discovery of the scale and

white powder. He then threatened that, unless Shatley consented to a search, he would obtain a

search warrant using the scale and powder, along with Harrison's statement that drugs were sold from

the apartment, and that he would charge Shatley with everything he "kn[e]w" he would find in the

apartment. Specifically, Willer told Shatley, "If I get a search warrant and I go through [the

apartment], you're going down with it." Throughout the conversation, Willer repeatedly used his

knowledge of the scale and white powder to convince Shatley to consent, telling her numerous times

that he knew there was additional contraband in the apartment; that she was the one who allowed

the scale, powder, and other contraband into the apartment; that as the lessee of the apartment, she

would be "going down" for everything he knew he would find in the apartment; and that the only

way she could fix her mistake of allowing the contraband into the apartment and the only way she

could "stop [her] house from burning down" would be to consent to a search of the apartment. In

short, the conversation was dominated by Willer's discovery of the scale and white powder; his

belief, based on his discovery, that other contraband was in the apartment; and his repeated threats

to charge Shatley with everything he would discover in the apartment after he obtained a search

warrant using the scale and white powder. From this, it is apparent that Willer's unlawful discovery

of the scale and white powder was "inextricably bound up" with and could not be segregated from

Shatley's consent.

       In addition, Willer's threat to obtain a search warrant on the basis of his discovery of the scale

and white powder and Harrison's statement that drugs were sold from the apartment was groundless.

First, evidence obtained during an illegal search may not serve as the basis for issuing a search

warrant. See People v. Bowen, 164 Ill. App. 3d 164, 177 (1987) ("Where the initial search or arrest

                                                 -25-
No. 2--08--0168

is unlawful neither can form the basis for the issuance of a search warrant and evidence so obtained

is inadmissible"); People v. Crowder, 99 Ill. App. 3d 500, 504 (1981) (a search warrant obtained

based upon evidence discovered during an illegal search should be quashed). Thus, Willer could not

have legally used the scale and white powder--discovered illegally--to obtain a search warrant.

        Likewise, Harrison's statement that drugs could be purchased at the apartment, without more,

would have been insufficient to constitute probable cause on which to issue a search warrant. See

People v. Moser, 356 Ill. App. 3d 900, 908 (2005) (probable cause necessary for the issuance of a

search warrant). While hearsay statements based on an informant's tip may serve as the basis for a

finding of probable cause on which a search warrant is issued, the tip must be reliable if the facts

contained in it are essential to the probable cause finding. People v. Tisler, 103 Ill. 2d 226, 237

(1984). Factors that may be considered in assessing the reliability of an informant's tip include the

informant's veracity and basis of knowledge, independent corroboration through police investigation,

the level of detail in the tip, and whether the informant had provided reliable tips in the past. Tisler,
103 Ill. 2d at 240-41, 249. Here, the record does not reveal that any reason existed to credit

Harrison's statement that drugs could be purchased at the apartment: there was no evidence that

Harrison had provided past reliable tips; there was no independent police corroboration of Harrison's

tip, aside from the illegal discovery of the scale and white powder; Harrison was an admitted drug

user; and Harrison allegedly had just been battered by Shatley and defendant, giving her reason to

fabricate information. Accordingly, without other, legally obtained evidence or without greater

indicators of reliability, Harrison's statement, like the scale and white powder, could not have served

as the basis for the issuance of a search warrant. See Tisler, 103 Ill. 2d at 237 (tip must be reliable

to serve as basis of probable cause finding). Thus, Willer's statement that he would obtain a search

                                                  -26-
No. 2--08--0168

warrant on those bases was groundless and was improperly used in eliciting Shatley's consent. See

Griffin, 158 Ill. App. 3d at 52 ("absent [officer's] discovery of cocaine during the initial illegal

search, police had no basis for obtaining a search warrant. Therefore, the threat by police that they

would obtain a warrant was groundless and they could not properly employ this threat in urging

defendants to consent").

        We acknowledge that whether consent was voluntary is a question of fact (Griffin, 158 Ill.

App. 3d at 51), and normally a determination is to be disturbed only if it was against the manifest

weight of the evidence (Pitman, 211 Ill. 2d at 512). We note that in the present case, the trial court's

determination that Shatley's consent was voluntary was made in the context of the trial court's belief

that Willer's entry into the apartment and subsequent discovery of the scale and white powder were

legal. Our determination that Willer's entry and discovery of the scale and white powder were illegal

alters the factual and legal context in which the assessment of the voluntariness of Shatley's consent

is to be made. We conclude that the trial court's finding that Shatley's consent was voluntary was

against the manifest weight of the evidence because, under a proper understanding of the relevant

circumstances, it is readily apparent that Shatley's consent was "inextricably bound up" with Willer's

illegal discovery of the scale and white powder and, thus, involuntary.

        As we have determined that Shatley's consent to search was involuntary because it was

"inextricably bound up" with Willer's illegal discovery of the scale and white powder, we need not

address defendant's other arguments directed against the trial court's finding of voluntariness.

        The State argues that even if Shatley's consent was involuntary, the evidence seized during

the subsequent search of the apartment would have been admissible under the inevitable-discovery

doctrine. The inevitable-discovery doctrine is an exception to the exclusionary rule, which typically

                                                 -27-
No. 2--08--0168

requires the exclusion of any evidence obtained in violation of the fourth amendment. People v.

Sutherland, 223 Ill. 2d 187, 227 (2006). Under the inevitable-discovery doctrine, if the State can

prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the evidence ultimately or inevitably would have

been discovered by lawful means, the evidence should be admitted, despite the fact that it was

obtained in violation of the fourth amendment. Nix v. Williams, 467 U.S. 431, 444, 81 L. Ed. 2d
377, 387-88, 104 S. Ct. 2501, 2509 (1984); Sutherland, 223 Ill. 2d at 227-28 (inevitable discovery

doctrine permits the admission of evidence that would otherwise be inadmissible at trial where the

State can prove that the evidence inevitably would have been discovered without reference to the

police error or misconduct).

       In the present case, the State argues that the evidence seized from defendant's apartment

inevitably would have been discovered because (1) Willer would have been able to obtain a search

warrant based upon Harrison's statement that drugs were sold from the apartment and upon his

discovery of the scale and white powder, and (2) Shatley would have consented to a search of the

apartment based solely on Harrison's report of the battery and statement that drugs were sold from

the apartment. We disagree.

       As we have already concluded that Willer would not have been able to secure a search

warrant based only upon Harrison's statement and his discovery of the scale and white powder, we

turn directly to the State's contention that the evidence inevitably would have been discovered

because Shatley would have consented to a search based upon Harrison's report of the battery and

statement that drugs were sold from the apartment. In ruling on the motion to suppress, the trial

court found that the inevitable-discovery doctrine applied because Shatley would have consented to

a search based on the information Willer had regarding the battery and Harrison's statement that

                                              -28-
No. 2--08--0168

drugs were being sold from the apartment. The State contends that because defendant did not, in his

opening brief, direct a specific argument against this finding, he has forfeited any contention of error

he may have with respect to it. We observe that although defendant did not address this specific

finding of the trial court, he did argue that Shatley would not have consented to the search absent

being presented with Willer's unlawful discovery of the scale and white powder. By arguing that

Shatley would not have consented unless she was confronted with that evidence, defendant

necessarily argued that she would not have consented under any other circumstances, i.e., she would

not have consented solely on the basis of Willer's information regarding the battery and Harrison's

statement that drugs were sold from the apartment. Accordingly, we conclude that defendant has

not forfeited the claim that the trial court erred in finding that the inevitable discovery doctrine

applied.

       Based upon our review of the record, including the video recording of Willer's conversation

with Shatley regarding consent to search the apartment, we conclude that the State failed to prove

by a preponderance of the evidence that Shatley inevitably would have consented to a search of the

apartment if she had been told only that she was under investigation for her alleged involvement in

the battery of Harrison and that Harrison had informed police that drugs were being sold from

Shatley's apartment. In his conversation with Shatley, Willer made two passing references to

Harrison: once when he informed Shatley that she was "a suspect in a battery case with that girl in

the black car" (presumably Harrison), and once when he threatened to obtain a search warrant based,

in part, upon "what the girl [presumably Harrison] who told us says happens here all the time." No

other mention was made of Harrison, the battery of Harrison, or Harrison's statement to the police.

As discussed above, Willer's discovery of the scale and white powder dominated the conversation,

                                                 -29-
No. 2--08--0168

and Shatley's consent appeared to be given not because of the possibility of being charged with

battery or because of Harrison's statement about drugs being sold from the apartment, but instead

because of fear of being charged with possessing the scale and white powder Willer had discovered.

No testimony was presented regarding the potential effect on Shatley of Harrison's report of the

battery and statement that drugs were sold from the apartment. Given that Willer's passing

references to Harrison failed to independently elicit any sort of response from Shatley and given the

lack of other evidence indicating that Shatley would have consented absent being confronted with

Willer's illegal discovery of the scale and white powder, we conclude that the State failed to prove

by a preponderance of the evidence that Shatley inevitably would have voluntarily consented to the

search of the apartment.

       As we conclude that Shatley's consent to search was involuntary and that the evidence found

during the subsequent search would not inevitably have been discovered, the trial court erred in

denying defendant's motion to suppress the evidence seized during the search of the apartment. See

People v. Cox, 295 Ill. App. 3d 666, 676 (1998) (where the evidence was seized in an illegal search,

the trial court erred in denying the motion to suppress that evidence); Griffin, 158 Ill. App. 3d at 52

(where the defendant's consent to search was involuntary, the trial court properly granted the motion

to suppress).

       Finally, defendant contends that his statements to police should have been suppressed

because they were made in direct response to being confronted with the evidence that was illegally

seized from his apartment. We conclude that defendant has forfeited this contention for failure to

raise it in the trial court. Although defendant's written motion to suppress requested that all fruits

of the illegal seizure and search, including statements made by defendant, be suppressed, no evidence

                                                 -30-
No. 2--08--0168

regarding defendant's statements to police was presented at the hearing on the motion to suppress,

and the trial court made no ruling on whether defendant's statements to police should be suppressed.

In fact, from the testimony of the witnesses at the hearing on the motion to suppress, one is not even

made aware of the fact that defendant made statements to the police. Further, although at trial

defendant renewed his objection to the admission of the evidence he sought to suppress through his

motion to suppress, there again was no mention made of defendant's statements to police. In

addition, defendant did not object to Willer's testimony at trial regarding defendant's statements, and

defendant's only objection to the admission of his written statement was that it referenced the

aggravated battery of Harrison. Accordingly, because defendant failed to present to the trial court

his contention that his statements to police should have been suppressed, he may not raise the issue

for the first time in this appeal. See People v. Adams, 131 Ill. 2d 387, 395 (1989) ("an issue not

raised in the trial court is considered waived").

       In sum, we conclude that Willer's entry into defendant's apartment and his discovery of the

scale and white powder in the master bedroom were unlawful. We also conclude that Shatley's

consent to search the apartment was involuntary because Willer exploited the unlawfully discovered

scale and white powder in eliciting Shatley's consent. Thus, the evidence seized from the apartment

pursuant to Shatley's consent should have been suppressed. The State makes no argument that the

error in admitting the illegally seized evidence was harmless. See People v. Simms, 121 Ill. 2d 259,

276 (1988) (where a constitutional error is at issue, the burden is on the State to prove beyond a

reasonable doubt that the error did not affect the decision); People v. Rowjee, 308 Ill. App. 3d 179,

186-87 (1999) (same). Without the illegally seized evidence, the State could not prevail at trial

because defendant's convictions rested solely upon the illegally seized evidence and his statements

                                                    -31-
No. 2--08--0168

that he owned the illegally seized evidence. Accordingly, defendant's convictions must be reversed

outright. See People v. Merriweather, 261 Ill. App. 3d 1050, 1056 (1994); Wilson, 86 Ill. App. 3d

at 643.

          Given our conclusion that defendant's convictions must be reversed, we need not address his

contention that he is entitled to an additional day of credit for time he spent in custody prior to

sentencing.

                                           CONCLUSION

          For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Lake County is reversed.

          Reversed.

          BOWMAN and JORGENSEN, JJ., concur.

                                                 -32-