People v. Alexander

2019 IL App (1st) 152431-U
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in People v. Alexander. Read the opinion of the Court — 2017 IL App (1st) 142170
Appellate Court of Illinois·Decided December 31, 2019·No. 1-15-2431·Unpublished

Opinion

2019 IL App (1st) 152431-U No. 1-15-2431 December 31, 2019

FIRST DIVISION

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and may not be cited as precedent by any party except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).

IN THE

APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

FIRST DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the Circuit Court ) Of Cook County. Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) No. 14 CR 9757 v. ) ) The Honorable ANTHONY ALEXANDER, ) Thomas J. Byrne, ) Judge Presiding. Defendant-Appellant. )

JUSTICE WALKER delivered the judgment of the court. Presiding Justice Griffin and Justice Pierce concurred in the judgment.

ORDER

¶1 Held: Defendant was not denied his right to cross-examine a witness because the entire record shows that the jury was made aware of adequate factors concerning areas of impeachment. The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied defendant’s motion for a new trial when it admitted a mug shot of the defendant from the day of his arrest, or when it did not permit defense counsel to pose additional questions to a potential juror concerning bias against police after the court learned that the juror could not put aside his distrust of the police and decide the case fairly. No. 1-15-2431

¶2 BACKGROUND

¶3 Defendant Anthony Alexander was convicted in a jury trial of possession of a controlled

substance with intent to deliver (cocaine), possession of a controlled substance with intent to

deliver (heroin), and delivery of a controlled substance (heroin). Alexander was sentenced to

concurrent terms of 8 years, 8 years, and 6 years, respectively, for the above convictions.

¶4 On August 19, 2014, Alexander filed a Motion to Quash Arrest and Suppress Evidence

contending that his warrantless arrest was made without probable cause and requesting the

court suppress all direct and indirect evidence from the arrest.

¶5 On November 10, 2014, the trial court held a hearing on the motion to quash, and the

defense called Chicago Police Officer Hanranhan. Hanranhan testified that on May 4, 2014,

while driving, he observed Alexander in front of a house at 3544 West Grenshaw accept money

from an individual and tender the same individual a small object. Hanranhan was about one

hundred feet away and approaching Alexander. Hanranhan parked the car and exited together

with his partner, Officer Bouch. Hanranhan detained Alexander and Bouch approached the

other individual who began walking up the stairs of the house. Hanranhan performed a

custodial search on Alexander and recovered "many bags of suspect heroin" and "suspect crack

cocaine." The items were sent to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab and tested positive for

heroin and cocaine.

¶6 On cross-examination, Hanranhan testified that the other individual was named TJ Smith.

Hanranhan performed the custodial search on Alexander only after Bouch informed Hanranhan

that Bouch recovered one item of heroin that Smith dropped. Hanranhan recovered $28 from

Alexander and "items from [Alexander's] front hoodie pocket."

2 No. 1-15-2431

¶7 On redirect examination, Hanranhan testified that he recovered 32 bags of suspect heroin

and 13 bags of suspect crack cocaine from Alexander's hoodie pocket. The defense rested and

requested the court grant the motion to quash because there was no probable cause to arrest

Alexander.

¶8 The trial court denied the motion to quash finding that Hanranhan testified credibly and

Alexander's detention was justified because Hanranhan did not search Alexander until

Hanranhan learned that Smith dropped a bag of suspect heroin.

¶9 Jury selection commenced on April 1, 2015. During voir dire, the trial judge asked the

venire a series of questions including “do you understand that under the law the testimony of

a police officer is not to be treated any differently than any other witness, that is, a police

officer’s testimony is entitled to the same consideration, no more no less, than any other

witness who is not in law enforcement?” The court asked those who did not agree to raise their

hands, but no one did.

¶ 10 The court then examined the potential jurors individually, including prospective juror PK.

PK explained that he had been arrested three different times in the 1970's. In all three arrests,

PK claimed to have done no wrong and that he was arrested because police picked up everyone

near each incident. PK stated that those incidents would interfere with his ability to be fair and

impartial because he "doesn’t believe or trust police these days." PK further stated that he could

not put the three incidents aside to decide the case fairly. PK noted that he knew a few police

officers in his life.

¶ 11 At the conclusion of voir dire, defense counsel sought to question PK, but the trial court

denied defense counsel's request because it did not want the questions to PK to taint the jury.

3 No. 1-15-2431

The trial court permitted defense counsel to make a proffer, and defense counsel explained that

he wanted to question PK regarding his distrust of police officers. Specifically, counsel stated

that he wanted to ask PK whether PK could treat the testimony of a police officer the same as

any non-police officer if PK were directed to do so by the court.

¶ 12 The trial court acknowledged the right for counsel to question jurors but found that because

PK indicated he could not trust police officers, questioning him further regarding the issue

would taint the pool. The court then struck PK for cause.

¶ 13 Subsequently, the sheriff advised the court that PK was heard speaking on his phone about

the case, saying he was on a jury about someone accused of drugs. The trial court ruled that

the jury pool was tainted due to PK's behavior, and PK was excused.

¶ 14 Prior to commencement of trial on August 2, 2015, defense counsel objected to the use of

Alexander's mug shot in which he is wearing a black hoodie. Defense argued the photograph

was more inflammatory than probative because of Alexander's "posture, the look,” and “I don't

think the jury is going to like that picture." The State argued the photograph was relevant

because Alexander was wearing a hoodie which would corroborate the State's argument that

the drugs were recovered from Alexander's front hoodie pocket. The court overruled defense's

objection.

¶ 15 At trial, Officer Bouch testified that he was working with Officer Hanranhan the night of

May 4, 2014 and at around 7:40 pm, he observed Smith tender Alexander money and

Alexander hand to Smith a small object from a plastic bag. Bouch believed he observed a

narcotics transaction based on his 12 years of experience. Therefore, the officers stopped,

exited the vehicle, and Bouch followed Smith who began walking up the stairs of the house.

4 No. 1-15-2431

Alexander remained on the sidewalk. Bouch observed Smith attempt to open a door with his

right hand while at the same time dropping an object to the ground. Bouch recovered the

dropped object immediately and found it to be a plastic Ziploc bag with black spade logos on

it and suspect heroin. Bouch placed Smith in custody, brought him outside, and told Hanranhan

that he recovered heroin. Bouch searched Smith but did not recover anything from his person.

The officers took Alexander and Smith to the station. At the station, Hanranhan gave Bouch

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People v. Alexander, 2019 IL App (1st) 152431-U (Ill. Ct. App. 2019).

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