People v. WeadPeople v. Wead
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- Before:
- Neville
delivered the opinion of the court:
After a jury trial, Daniel Wead was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to 38 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Wead’s motion for a new trial was denied. Wead now appeals and presents the following issues for our review: (1) whether the police had probable cause to arrest Wead on January 16, 1999, when the police did not have a warrant for his arrest and did not observe him commit a crime prior to his arrest; and (2) whether Wead’s January 18, 1999, statement was voluntary when, prior to making the statement, he was isolated in an interview room at a police station for 54 hours.
BACKGROUND
THE HEARING ON THE MOTION TO QUASH ARREST AND SUPPRESS EVIDENCE
OFFICER BILL QUINN
Officer Bill Quinn of the Chicago police department was detailed to the Area One Mission Team at 51st Street and Wentworth Avenue. Officer Quinn testified that on January 16, 1999, the detectives on the team asked him to find Daniel Wead and bring him to the police station. Officer Quinn testified that he and his partner were dressed in civilian clothing and riding in an unmarked police car. They drove to the area Wead was known to frequent and observed Wead on the sidewalk in front of 2306 West 51st Street. Officer Quinn stated that it looked like Wead was exiting a building. Officer Quinn testified that he did not have a search warrant to search Wead or the premises, and he did not see Wead commit a crime prior to approaching him. According to Officer Quinn, after a conversation with Wead, Wead got into the backseat of the unmarked police car and rode to Area One. Officer Quinn testified that he took Wead to the Area One detective division and put him in an interview room and left the door open. Finally, Officer Quinn testified that he had not been apprised of the facts of the case before he was directed to pick up Wead and he had no involvement with Wead after bringing him to the interview room.
On cross-examination, Officer Quinn testified that before he was sent to pick up Wead, he was at the Bruno Kopec homicide scene and Terry Lasa came forward and spoke with the detectives. Officer Quinn stated that he spoke with Lasa in the car after the detectives directed him to take Lasa back to Area One. After speaking with Lasa, the detectives asked Officer Quinn about the name “Billy Reid” and gave him the description Lasa gave them. Officer Quinn testified that he told the detectives that Wead fit the description of the person they were looking for, so he retrieved a photograph of Wead and gave it to the detectives. Officer Quinn stated that he believed the detectives showed Wead’s photograph to Lasa.
DETECTIVE TIMOTHY NOLAN
Detective Timothy Nolan testified that he never told Wead that he wanted him to be a witness for “Bob Reid.” When he spoke to Wead on January 16, 1999, Nolan stated that he told Wead they were investigating Kopec’s murder. Detective Nolan also testified that Wead stated that he knew that Kopec had been murdered. According to Detective Nolan, when he asked Wead if he could inventory his knife, Wead stated that he was using drugs on January 15, 1999, the date Kopec was killed, and raised his sleeves to show Detective Nolan the track marks. Detective Nolan testified that he had not seen Wead’s arm prior to January 18, 1999, because Wead had on a long-sleeved sweatshirt. Detective Nolan stated that Wead blurted out that he should take Lasa for a polygraph examination. Detective Nolan testified that when he told Wead that Lasa had already volunteered for a polygraph examination, Wead stated, “okay officer, I did it.” Detective Nolan testified that at no time prior to Wead’s confession had any officer accused Wead of killing Kopec or demanded that he admit that he killed Kopec. Detective Nolan also testified that Wead was never handcuffed when they were together and was never forced to wear a paper outfit.
On cross-examination, Detective Nolan testified that when he questioned Lasa about his knowledge of disagreements Bruno Kopec had with people before his death, Lasa stated that Kopec told him that he was upset with an individual named Billy Reid or Tim Reid for taking $10 and not returning it. Detective Nolan testified that on January 16, 1999, and January 17, 1999, he did not offer Wead a ride home or ask him if he wanted to be taken home. Detective Nolan stated that when Wead told him that he wanted to help the investigation, he informed Wead that to help he would have to stay at the station while other witnesses were interviewed. Detective Nolan testified that Wead confessed around five minutes after he walked into the interview room on January 18, 1999. Detective Nolan stated that he did not speak to Wead prior to Wead’s confession. However, after further cross-examination on the matter, Detective Nolan testified that he did walk into the room and speak to Wead before he confessed. Detective Nolan testified that Wead’s confession was not the first statement made by Wead when he entered the interview room.
DANIEL WEAD
Wead testified that on January 16, 1999, he was leaving to go buy some coffee when Officer Quinn approached him and stated that he wanted him to be a witness for a man named Bob Reid. Wead asked Officer Quinn “what he was going to be a witness of” and Officer Quinn said he did not know but that Wead would have to go to the
Wead testified that Officer Quinn and his partner put him in a room and closed the door. He stated that at this point, he did not feel that he could leave the interview room and go home. Wead testified that he was handcuffed by his right hand on the left side of the wall as soon as he walked into the interview room. Wead testified that the police did not speak to him regarding a murder investigation until the third day he was at Area One. Wead stated that he was up for three days and nights in the interview room sitting on the bench. He testified that he was only unhandcuffed on the two occasions he was taken to the bathroom and that he was fed only on January 16, 1999.
Wead testified that the detectives told him that a man named Bob Reid told them that he knew the victim. Wead responded that he did know the victim. Wead testified that he was never told that the victim had been murdered. He was asked the last time he saw the victim and responded Thursday morning. According to Wead, when he was questioned on January 16, 1999, he did not know the victim was dead and the police never told him that the victim was dead, only that he, Wead, was going to be a witness. Wead testified that he did not ask for a lawyer until he found out on January 18, 1999, that the victim had been murdered.
Wead testified that his apartment was searched without his consent because he did not sign a consent to search form. Initially, Wead stated that the signature on the consent to search form was his, but he later said that he did not remember signing the form and that he did not recognize the signature. Wead stated that he was unable to read or write. Wead testified that Detective Nolan was not the first detective to speak with him. Wead stated that he did not tell the officers that he wanted to go home because it would have done no good, since the door was locked and he was handcuffed. Finally, Wead testified that he was not homeless and that he planned to live at the place he was currently rehabbing until someone moved in.
Before the State was permitted to cross-examine Wead, the trial judge asked Wead some questions. Wead testified that on January 16 and 17, 1999, he thought he was a witness. Wead testified that on January 18, 1999, when the detectives told him how the victim was killed and how he had done it, he knew that he was not a witness but a suspect. Wead testified that he never told the detectives that he had a drug problem. After the trial judge asked his questions, the State was permitted to cross-examine Wead.
On cross-examination, Wead testified that on January 16 and 17, 1999, he thought he was a witness because he was told he was a witness. Therefore, he agreed to be there as a witness. He further stated that he was put in a paper uniform on January 16, 1999. Finally, Wead testified that on January 18, 1999, Detective Nolan never asked whether he could inventory Wead’s knife to do some tests.
DETECTIVE JOHN HENRY
Detective John Henry was called by the State in rebuttal and testified that the consent to search form was read and explained to Wead, including the fact that he had the right to refuse to sign it. Detective Heniy further testified that Wead
On cross-examination, Detective Henry testified that Wead indicated that he could not read, so Detective Henry read the consent to search form to him. Detective Henry stated that he explained to Wead that they would look through his apartment for (1) a matchbook with telephone numbers and the names of the two individuals that could verify Wead’s alibi, and (2) for bloody clothing. Detective Henry testified that the police were looking for physical evidence because the murder was committed by a knife or sharp object, but the police were not looking for a knife.
Detective Henry testified that on January 16 and 17, 1999, he never took Wead to the lockup. Detective Henry stated that he escorted Wead to and from the bathroom because there were inconsistencies in Wead’s comments that were being investigated; because it was not known at that time whether Wead was an offender; and because the detectives did not want Wead to walk out. On redirect examination, Detective Henry stated that he escorted Wead to and from the bathroom because it was police procedure for each detective to escort his suspects or witnesses to and from the bathroom when they are at Area One. On re-cross-examination, Detective Henry testified that he did not know if the procedure of escorting witnesses to and from the bathroom is written down and that it is just a procedure used for safekeeping individuals.
DETECTIVE TIMOTHY NOLAN
Detective Nolan was called by the State in surrebutal and he testified that on January 17, 1999, he learned that Detectives Henry and Holmes had searched for bloody clothes and physical evidence.
THE HEAEING ON THE MOTION TO SUPPRESS STATEMENTS
DETECTIVE TIMOTHY NOLAN
Detective Nolan testified that he first met Wead on January 16, 1999, at approximately 2:30 p.m., in an Area One detective division interview room. Detective Nolan stated that he had no knowledge of whether anyone spoke with Wead before he and his partner entered the interview room. Detective Nolan started the interview by “Mirandizing” Wead. According to Detective Nolan, Wead stated that he understood his Miranda rights. The interview lasted 15 to 20 minutes. When his shift ended, Detective Nolan turned the case over to the third-shift detectives.
Detective Nolan testified that on January 17, 1999, he entered the interview room alone and “Mirandized” Wead before beginning any discussions. The interview lasted “almost a whole day,” beginning at approximately 8:30 a.m. and lasting until approximately 3 p.m. No one other than Detective Nolan interviewed Wead on January 17, 1999.
On January 18, 1999, Detective Nolan entered the interview room alone at approximately 2:30 p.m. and asked Wead if he could inventory the knife in Wead’s coat pocket. Detective Nolan stated that Wead became agitated and started yelling because he wanted Detective Nolan to take Lasa in for a polygraph examination. Detective Nolan further testified that Wead then stated that he was a drug user, at which point Detective Nolan advised Wead of his Miranda rights and proceeded to question him.
Detective Nolan testified that Assistant State’s Attorney Adam Monreal and a
Detective Nolan stated that in his presence no one physically coerced or struck Wead, made threats or promises to Wead, or made misrepresentations to Wead in an effort to get him to speak. He never saw any signs of physical abuse on Wead’s body. Additionally, Detective Nolan testified that Wead stated he was treated “decent” by the detectives.
On cross-examination, Detective Nolan testified that on January 16, 1999, when he met Wead for the first time in the interview room, Wead was not free to leave. Detective Nolan testified that he was not with Wead at all times on January 16 and 17, 1999. Detective Nolan stated that on January 17, 1999, Wead was moved into a different interview room and was not in the same interview room he left him in on January 16, 1999. Detective Nolan testified that on January 17, 1999, he walked out of the interview room when Wead said he was not going to speak anymore. On redirect examination, Detective Nolan testified that Wead never asked to leave the police station and was not denied access to leave. He stated that Wead was given food and allowed to use the bathroom. Finally, on re-cross-examination, Detective Nolan testified that on January 18, 1999, Wead did not come to him and say that he wanted to talk about the murder.
Before Detective Nolan was permitted to exit the witness stand, the trial judge asked Detective Nolan some questions. Detective Nolan testified that he wanted to inventory the knife because he knew the victim had been stabbed and the murder weapon had not been found. Detective Nolan testified that the knife had no visible stains that looked like blood.
DETECTIVE JOHN HENRY
Detective Henry testified that on January 16, 1999, he and his partner were working the third watch from 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. They took over the Kopeck murder investigation from Detective Nolan when the second watch ended. Detective Henry testified that he “Mirandized” Wead at 8:30 p.m. and that he and his partner spoke with him for approximately 90 minutes. Detective Henry spoke with Wead on and off throughout the evening. His partner was never alone with Wead. On cross-examination, Detective Henry testified that he was not with Wead at all times during the investigation.
THE TRIAL COURT’S FINDINGS
The trial court considered the pretrial record in making its finding on Wead’s
Wead maintains in his brief that the trial court erred when it denied the motion to quash arrest and suppress evidence and the motion to suppress his statement. Wead did not raise any issues in his brief regarding the trial.
ANALYSIS
On appeal, Wead argues that the trial court erred when it denied his motion to quash his arrest and suppress the evidence. In light of the trial court’s ruling, we must decide whether the police had probable cause to arrest Wead when the police officers stopped Wead when he was exiting a building and asked Wead to accompany them to the police station to assist with a homicide investigation. Wead argues that his detention by the police officers constituted an arrest or seizure under the fourth amendment and his subsequent confession was the product of that illegal arrest. Wead contends that the police did not have probable cause to arrest him on January 16, 1999, when he was stopped on the street by the police, transported to the police station, and placed in an interview room for questioning. The State maintains that Wead was not illegally arrested because he voluntarily accompanied the police officers to the police station. Further, the State maintains that Wead voluntarily stayed at the police station and spent two nights in an interrogation room. We note that the trial court found (1) that Wead was not in custody when he stayed at the police station in an interview room lacking sleeping facilities because he was homeless; (2) that the police had probable cause to arrest Wead on January 17, 1999; and (3) that Wead was not arrested until January 18, 1999.
We begin our analysis by identifying the relevant standard of review. In Ornelas v. United States, 517 U.S. 690, 134 L. Ed. 2d 911, 116 S. Ct. 1657 (1996) the United States Supreme Court held that reviewing courts should review de novo the ultimate finding with respect to probable cause or reasonable suspicion. Ornelas, 517 U.S. at 699, 134 L. Ed. 2d at 920, 116 S. Ct. at 1663; People v. Sorenson, 196 Ill. 2d 425, 431 (2001). The court cautioned, however, that findings of historical fact should be reviewed only for clear error and that reviewing courts must give due weight to inferences drawn from the facts by the fact finder. Ornelas, 517 U.S. at 699, 134 L. Ed. 2d at 921, 116 S. Ct. at 1663; Sorenson, 196 Ill. 2d at 431.
WEAD’S INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE POLICE ON THE STREET
The first question we must answer is whether an arrest occurred on January 16, 1999, when Wead walked out of a building, had a discussion with Officer Quinn, and then got into a police car and accompanied Officer Quinn and his partner to the police station. We note “ ‘that whenever a police officer accosts an individual and restrains his freedom to walk away, he has “seized” that person.’ ” Dunaway v. New York, 442 U.S. 200, 207 n.6, 60 L. Ed. 2d 824, 832 n.6, 99 S. Ct. 2248, 2254 n.6 (1979), quoting Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 16, 20 L. Ed. 2d 889, 903, 88 S. Ct. 1868, 1877 (1968); People v. McKinney, 277 Ill. App. 3d 889, 893 (1996). In the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, an arrest is defined as the taking of a person into custody and is accomplished by an actual restraint of that person or by his submission to custody. See
In this case, the evidence establishes that Officer Quinn and his partner were dressed in civilian clothes and riding in an unmarked police car when they approached Wead on the street. Officer Quinn told Wead that the Area One detectives were investigating a homicide and asked him to accompany them to the police station. Wead agreed to accompany Officer Quinn and his partner to the police station. The evidence establishes that when Wead encountered the police on the street and was transported to the police station, the officers did not display their weapons and there was no formal declaration of arrest or a show of police authority which compelled him to go to the police station. In addition, Wead was not handcuffed or given a Miranda warning prior to being placed in the police car, although he was searched and his pocket knife was removed from his belt. See People
The circumstances which might suggest that Wead was under arrest are not present in this case: (1) only two officers were present for Wead’s trip to the station; (2) the officers did not display their weapons; (3) the officers did not use language suggesting that Wead was required to go to the police station; and (4) while Wead was searched and his pocket knife was confiscated on the street, once at the police station, he was not fingerprinted or photographed. Therefore, considering all the facts and circumstances at the time of Wead’s initial encounter with Officer Quinn on the street, we find that an arrest or seizure did not occur because (I) Wead agreed to accompany Officer Quinn and his partner to the police station; (2) Wead was not compelled to go to the police station with a display of weapons or handcuffs or with the use of language; and (3) Wead would not have been deprived of his freedom and forced to go to the police station, according to Quinn, had he stated that he did not want to assist with the investigation.
WEAD’S DETENTION AT THE POLICE STATION
The next question we must address is whether Wead was arrested when he was detained at the police station. The answer to this question is yes. Dunaway, 442 U.S. 200, 60 L. Ed. 2d 824, 99 S. Ct. 2248; Young, 206 Ill. App. 3d 789. In Dunaway, the police received information from an informant that the defendant was involved in the crime. Dunaway, 442 U.S. at 203, 60 L. Ed. 2d at 829, 99 S. Ct. at 2251. The police questioned the informant but did not receive “enough information to get a warrant.” Dunaway, 442 U.S. at 203, 60 L. Ed. 2d at 829, 99 S. Ct. at 2251. A police detective ordered other detectives to “pick up” the defendant and bring him in. Dunaway, 442 U.S. at 203, 60 L. Ed. 2d at 829, 99 S. Ct. at 2251. The defendant “was taken into custody; although he was not told he was under arrest, he would have been physically restrained if he had attempted to leave.” Dunaway, 442 U.S. at 203, 60 L. Ed. 2d at 830, 99 S. Ct. at 2252. He was driven to police headquarters in a police car and placed in an interrogation room, where he was questioned by officers after being given the warning required by Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694, 86 S. Ct. 1602 (1966). Defendant waived counsel and eventually made a statement that incriminated him in the crime. The Supreme Court held in Dunaway that the defendant was arrested when the police involuntarily took defendant to the police station for questioning in violation of his rights under the fourth amendment. Dunaway, 442 U.S. at 207, 60 L. Ed. 2d at 832, 99 S. Ct. at 2253-54. The Dunaway court noted that fourth amendment protections apply during investigatory seizures.
The facts in this case are similar to the facts in Dunaway: (1) the police received information about Wead and his connection to the crime from Lasa; (2) the police did not receive enough information from Lasa to obtain a warrant; (3) detectives ordered Officer Quinn to pick Wead up and bring him to the station; (4) Wead was not told that he was under arrest during his initial encounter with the police on the street; (5) when Wead agreed to go with the police, he was driven to the police station and placed in an interrogation room; (6) once Wead arrived at the station, Detective Nolan stated that Wead was not free to leave the station and, therefore, Wead would have been physically restrained if he had attempted to leave; (7) Wead was given his Miranda warnings and questioned numerous times by the officers; and (8) Wead made a statement after being in police custody for 54 hours. In this case Wead’s voluntary act of going to the police station became an involuntary act once he arrived at the station and was not free to leave the police station. The Dunaway Court would find that Wead was under arrest when he was not free to leave the police station. See Dunaway, 442 U.S. at 214, 60 L. Ed. 2d at 837, 99 S. Ct. at 2257-58.
In Young, this court considered the folio-wing facts to determine if an illegal arrest had taken place: (1) whether the defendant was asked to wait in the public waiting room at the police station; (2) whether the defendant was put in an interrogation room with the door closed; (3) whether the defendant was released or told he was free to leave after he was questioned by a police officer, even though he had not implicated himself; (4) whether the defendant spent the night in a room with no sleeping facilities; (5) whether the defendant was denied telephone calls; (6) whether the defendant was in the police station for an extended length of time before making a statement; and (7) whether the defendant was briefly questioned only once after the initial interview. Young, 206 Ill. App. 3d at 800-01. The Young court held that under such circumstances a reasonable person would conclude that he or she was not free to leave. Young, 206 Ill. App. 3d at 801. Applying Young to the facts in this case, we conclude that Wead was under arrest once he arrived at the police station because (1) Wead was not free to leave the police station and, therefore, his agreement and voluntary act of going to the police station were nullified once he was divested of his freedom when Detective Nolan decided he could not leave the station; (2) Wead was not asked to wait in the public waiting room; (3) Wead was questioned several times over numerous hours by different officers after his initial interview; (4) Wead was never told that he was free to leave the police station after he was questioned on January 16 and 17, 1999, and failed to make an inculpatory statement; (5) Wead spent three days in an interrogation room with no sleeping facilities (he was not allowed to bathe or brush his teeth and had to be escorted to the washroom); and (6) Wead was in the police station for 54 hours before making a statement. Young, 206 Ill. App. 3d at 800-01.
PROBABLE CAUSE
Next, in light of our holding that Wead was arrested on January 16, 1999, once he arrived at the police station, we must now determine whether the police had probable cause to detain Wead. Our task on review is simply to ensure that the trial court had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed. Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238-39, 76 L. Ed. 2d 527, 548, 103 S. Ct. 2317, 2332 (1983); People v. Tisler, 103 Ill. 2d 226, 248 (1984). The trial court, when making a probable cause determination, is to apply standards at least as stringent as those that guide a magistrate in deciding whether to issue a warrant. People v. Williams, 147 Ill. 2d 173, 209 (1991), citing People v. Adams, 131 Ill. 2d 387, 398 (1989), and Tisler, 103 Ill. 2d at 236. The trial court must determine whether “ £a reasonable and prudent man, having the knowledge possessed by the officer at the time of the arrest, would believe the defendant committed the offense.’ ” Tisler, 103 Ill. 2d at 237, quoting People v. Wright, 41 Ill. 2d 170, 174 (1968). Whether the necessary probable cause exists is governed, not by technical legal rules, but rather by commonsense considerations that are factual and practical. People v. Mitchell, 45 Ill. 2d 148, 153-54 (1970). This review cannot be tainted by hindsight which may luckily seem to be supported by the fruit of some criminality; rather, the review must center on the information available to the officers preceding the arrest. Adams, 131 Ill. 2d at 398. “It is basic that an arrest with or without a warrant must stand upon firmer ground than mere suspicion, see Henry v. United States, 361 U.S. 98, 101[, 4 L. Ed. 2d 134, 138, 80 S. Ct. 168, 170 (1959); Mallory v. United States, 354 U.S. 449, 454, 1 L. Ed. 2d 1479, 1483, 77 S. Ct. 1356, 1359 (1957))], though the arresting officer need not have in hand evidence that would suffice to convict.” Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 479, 9 L. Ed. 2d 441, 450, 83 S. Ct. 407, 413 (1963); People v. Marino, 44 Ill. 2d 562, 573 (1970).
A person is lawfully arrested when the police: (a) have a warrant commanding that such person be arrested; or (b) have reasonable grounds to believe that a warrant for the person’s arrest has been issued in the State or in another jurisdiction; or (c) have reasonable grounds to believe that the person is committing or has committed an offense. People v. Mathis, 55 Ill. App. 3d 680, 685 (1977) (“In Illinois, an arrest without a warrant is not proper unless the conditions prescribed by statute are met”);
The evidence establishes that Officer Quinn and his partner were assisting with the Kopec murder investigation but they did not have a warrant for Wead’s arrest
While Officer Quinn did not arrest Wead, Detective Nolan did because Wead was detained and deprived of his freedom once he arrived at the police station. Wead’s voluntary act of agreeing to accompany the police to the station to assist in the investigation was nullified by Detective Nolan’s decision that Wead could not leave the station, thereby depriving him of his freedom. The police need probable cause when they arrest or seize a citizen and deprive him of his freedom.
We note that the trial court found that probable cause did not exist to arrest Wead on January 16, 1999, and the State conceded during oral argument that the police did not have sufficient evidence on January 16, 1999, or January 17, 1999, to obtain a warrant for Wead’s arrest. We find that the State’s concession is also an admission that the police did not have probable cause to arrest Wead until Wead made the statement on January 18, 1999. In light of the aforementioned facts and circumstances, we hold that probable cause did not exist to detain Wead because the facts and circumstances within Detective Nolan’s knowledge, prior to Wead’s statement in the interview room on January 18, 1999, were not sufficient to warrant a man of reasonable caution to believe that Wead had committed a crime or murdered Bruno Kopec. Dunaway, 442 U.S. at 214, 60 L. Ed. 2d at 837, 99 S. Ct. at 2257;
We also note, however, that the trial court found that the police had probable cause to arrest Wead on January 17, 1999, for two reasons: (1) because Lasa provided the police with information about Wead’s involvement in a theft; and (2) because Wead made inconsistent statements to the police. We find that the trial court did not have a substantial legal basis for concluding that probable cause existed. Wead’s alleged involvement in a theft was obviously nothing more than a suspicion. See Henry, 361 U.S. at 101, 4 L. Ed. 2d at 138, 80 S. Ct. at 170 (rumors, reports, suspicion or strong reason to suspect are not adequate to support a warrant for arrest). The Criminal Code of 1961 provides that a theft occurs when a person obtains unauthorized control over property.
THE ADMISSIBILITY OF WEAD’S CONFESSION
Wead next argues that his confession is inadmissible because it is the product of his illegal detention and not the result of an independent act of his free will. The determination that an illegal arrest has occurred is not dispositive of the issue of the admissibility of Wead’s subsequent confession. People v. Reynolds, 257 Ill. App. 3d 792, 805 (1994). Statements given during a period of illegal detention are inadmissible even though voluntarily given if they are the product of the illegal detention and not the result of an independent act of free will. Reynolds, 257 Ill. App. 3d at 805, citing Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 501, 75 L. Ed. 2d 229, 238, 103 S. Ct. 1319, 1326 (1983). Evidence obtained as a result of an illegal detention must be suppressed absent significant intervening circumstances that purged the taint of the illegal arrest. Dunaway, 442 U.S. at 219, 60 L. Ed. 2d at 840, 99 S. Ct. at 2260; see also Taylor v. Alabama, 457 U.S. 687, 692-93, 73 L. Ed. 2d 314, 321, 102 S. Ct. 2664, 2668-69 (1982) (Court held confession inadmissible as the fruit of an illegal arrest when defendant confessed after police arrested defendant without a warrant and used defendant’s fingerprints to link him to the crime); Brown v. Illinois, 422 U.S. 590, 45 L. Ed. 2d 416, 95 S. Ct. 2254 (1975) (Court held defendant’s inculpatory statements inadmissible when defendant was arrested without probable cause or a search warrant for the purpose of questioning as part of a murder investigation); Reynolds, 257 Ill. App. 3d at 805. To determine whether the confession was obtained by exploiting the illegality of the arrest, the court must focus on the causal connection between the illegality and the confession. Dunaway, 442 U.S. at 217-18, 60 L. Ed. 2d at 839, 99 S. Ct. at 2259; Reynolds, 257 Ill. App. 3d at 805. Thus, if the causal chain between the initial illegality and the evidence sought to be excluded is broken, the link to the evidence is sufficiently attenuated to dissipate the taint of the illegal conduct. See United States v. Ienco, 182 F.3d 517, 526 (7th Cir. 1999).
Factors to be considered in determining whether a confession was the product of an illegal arrest include: (1) whether Miranda warnings were given; (2) the proximity in time between the arrest and the confession; (3) the presence of intervening circumstances; and (4) the purpose and flagrancy of the police misconduct. Brown, 422 U.S. at 603-04, 45 L. Ed. 2d at 427, 95 S. Ct. at 2262. The State has the burden of establishing the admissibility of the statement. Brown, 422 U.S. at 604, 45 L. Ed. 2d at 427, 95 S. Ct. at 2261-62.
First, the presence of
Second, we consider the length of time between the illegal arrest and Wead’s inculpatory statement. The temporal proximity between an arrest and a confession is often an ambiguous factor, the significance of which will depend upon the particular facts of each case (People v. White, 117 Ill. 2d 194, 223-24 (1987)), particularly if there are additional indicia of coercion. People v. Wilberton, 348 Ill. App. 3d 82, 86 (2004) citing People v. Willis, 344 Ill. App. 3d 868, 886 (2003); People v. Ollie, 333 Ill. App. 3d 971, 986 (2002). Where no intervening circumstances are present, a long and illegal detention may in itself impel the defendant to confess. White, 117 Ill. 2d at 224. In this case, Wead gave an inculpatory statement to the police 54 hours after his arrest. Rather than dissipating the taint of his illegal arrest, Wead’s 54-hour detention was an ongoing violation with cumulative effects. Willis, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 886, citing People v. Franklin, 115 Ill. 2d 328, 335 (1987). The evidence establishes that each day Wead stayed in the interview room was another day he was forced to go without bathing, brushing his teeth, and changing his clothes. During his detention, Wead had no assurance that he would receive a meal. The police officers’ decision to detain Wead in an interview room with no sleeping or washing facilities for 54 hours was coercive in nature.
Courts have held that detaining a suspect without a warrant for more than 48 hours requires suppression of statements that are unpurged of the taint created by the illegal arrest. Gerstein v. Pugh, 420 U.S. 103, 125, 43 L. Ed. 2d 54, 71-72, 95 S. Ct. 854, 868-69 (1975) (Court held that “any significant pretrial restraint of liberty” requires a determination of probable cause “made by a judicial officer either before or promptly after arrest”); County of Riverside v. McLaughlin, 500 U.S. 44, 56, 114 L. Ed. 2d 49, 63, 111 S. Ct. 1661, 1670 (1991) (court held promptness requirement of Gerstein requires probable cause determinations within 48 hours of warrantless arrest);
Third, our analysis now focuses on whether an intervening circumstance occurred between Wead’s illegal arrest on January 16, 1999, and his inculpatory statement on January 18, 1999. Intervening circumstances are an important factor in attenuation because they break the causal connection in the chain between unconstitutional police conduct and a confession. Wilburton, 348 Ill. App. 3d at 86, citing People v. Austin, 293 Ill. App. 3d 784, 788 (1997). The confrontation of a defendant with properly obtained evidence which induces a voluntary confession from the defendant will be considered an intervening circumstance. Foskey, 136 Ill. 2d at 87; Ollie, 333 Ill. App. 3d at 985; see also 4 W LaFave, Search & Seizure § 11.4(c), at 404 (2d ed. 1987). The State argues that the police confronted Wead with information obtained from Lasa and that this confrontation was an intervening attenuating
Finally, the purpose and flagrancy of police misconduct is a key factor in determining whether Wead’s inculpatory statement is attenuated from the taint of his illegal arrest. Illegal arrests have been held to be purposeful and flagrant when undertaken solely to conduct “fishing expeditions” in the hope that detaining a defendant would yield evidence of a crime. Brown, 422 U.S. at 605, 45 L. Ed. 2d at 428, 95 S. Ct. at 2262 (flagrant police conduct was found where defendant’s arrest was undertaken for investigation and without any probable cause, in the hope that something might
In conclusion, the factors support suppression of Wead’s statement and there is no evidence that establishes a break in the 54-hour causal chain between Wead’s illegal arrest on January 16, 1999, and his inculpatory statement on January 18, 1999. The evidence establishes that Wead’s incriminating statement was the product of his 54-hour illegal detention and not an act of his free will; therefore, his statement will be suppressed. In light of the fact we have held that Wead was illegally arrested and that Wead’s statement must he suppressed because it was a fruit of the illegal arrest, we need not address any other issues raised by Wead in his brief.
For the foregoing reasons, we reverse defendant’s conviction and remand for a new trial in which the defendant’s postarrest statement shall be suppressed.
Reversed and remanded.
CAMPBELL, PJ, and GALLAGHER, J, concur.