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People v. Laake5/4/2004
David Laake underwent a statutory summary suspension of his driver's license in connection with a DUI arrest. He filed motions to quash his arrest and rescind the summary suspension. The circuit judge conducted a hearing and denied both motions (as well as Laake's motion to reconsider). Laake then filed this appeal, claiming the motions should have been granted because the arresting officer obtained the State's DUI evidence through an unreasonable seizure. He has consolidated an appeal from his DUI conviction. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
The evidence from the hearing on Laake's motions is contained in an agreed statement of facts. Deputy Tim Chastain, from the Rock Island County Sheriff's Department, was the only witness to testify at the hearing.
Chastain testified that on December 17, 2002, at approximately 3 a.m., he received a report from police dispatch of a possible intoxicated driver heading south on Route 150 from Route 6. The motorist who had called to make the report identified the suspect vehicle as a dark-colored passenger car, possibly a Chevrolet Celebrity (although the *348 motorist was not positive about the make and model). When Chastain received the report from police dispatch, he was located near Route 150 and the Henry County line. Thus he headed northbound on Route 150 and checked all **771 ***205 the way to Route 6. He did not see any vehicles in that area. Then he checked 104th Street south of Route 150 and observed a dark green Saturn vehicle stopped on the shoulder of the southbound lane with its brake lights on. He located the vehicle at approximately 3:16 a.m.
Chastain pulled in behind the vehicle, stopped his squad car, and activated the car's overhead emergency lights. He testified that his purpose in stopping behind the Saturn was to check on the welfare of its driver. He acknowledged that the driver would have been able to see the flashing emergency lights, and that he (Chastain) activated the lights as a precaution to alert other motorists of his squad car. The area was isolated and not well lighted. The area was also near a curve, although it was not in the curve's immediate proximity. In addition to overhead emergency lights, Chastain's squad car was equipped with flashing hazard or warning lights.
Chastain approached the Saturn and identified the driver as David Laake by his Illinois driver's license. Chastain testified that during his initial contact with Laake, he detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from inside the Saturn. He also noticed that Laake used slurred speech and had glassy, bloodshot eyes. The front passenger-side tire of the Saturn was flat, and Chastain asked Laake if he hit something in the roadway. Laake said he did not know; he was simply driving southbound on 104th street when the tire suddenly went flat. Chastain asked Laake how long he had been sitting on the roadside, and he said approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Chastain asked if he had been on Route 6 in front of the airport before driving to his current location, and Laake said yes. Then Chastain mentioned the report of a possible intoxicated driver, and he asked how much alcohol Laake had consumed that evening. Laake said he had consumed a couple of drinks.
At that point Chastain had Laake step out of the Saturn for some field sobriety tests. He conducted the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the one-leg-stand test, and the walk-and-turn test. According to Chastain's testimony, Laake failed all three tests. Chastain also performed a portable or preliminary breath test, which produced a reading of 0.149. He consequently arrested Laake for driving under the influence of alcohol.
After hearing this evidence, the judge found that Chastain initiated legitimate interaction with Laake, and thus that the ensuing
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