People v. Pigg

308 N.E.2d 190, 17 Ill. App. 3d 568, 1974 Ill. App. LEXIS 3020
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedFebruary 6, 1974
Docket58476
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 308 N.E.2d 190 (People v. Pigg) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Pigg, 308 N.E.2d 190, 17 Ill. App. 3d 568, 1974 Ill. App. LEXIS 3020 (Ill. Ct. App. 1974).

Opinions

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE ADESKO

delivered the opinion of the court;

The defendant, Claude A. Pigg, was arrested on June 12, 1971, and charged with driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, in violation of section 11 — 501(a) of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 95%, par. 11 — 501(a)), and with improper lane usage, in violation of section 11 — 709(a) of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 95%, par. 11 — 709(a)). Following a jury trial in the Circuit Court of Cook County, the defender was found guilty of both offenses and was fined $200 for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and $10 for improper lane usage. In addition, he was directed to pay $10 in court costs. Defendant appeals these convictions, contending that the evidence offered by the State at trial, consisting solely of the testimony of police officers, was not sufficient to prove him guilty of the offenses beyond a reasonable doubt. He contends further that the officers had become “emotionally involved with the defendant and consequently, their ability to impartially judge the defendant’s fitness to drive was impaired and the evidence offered by the officers tended to be contradictory and inconsistent.”

The State at trial presented the testimony of the arresting officer, the testimony of another officer who had observed defendant at the police station, and a third officer testifying in rebuttal as to the condition of the defendant’s vehicle when it was later secured by the police. The arresting officer stated that at about 4:10 A.M., on June 12, 1971, he observed defendant’s vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed and swerving from the right lane to the left lane several times in a short distance. At one point the defendant’s vehicle swerved off the road and onto the gravel shoulder. The officer stopped defendant and requested that he produce his driver’s license. The officer stated that at this time he noticed a strong odor of alcohol. Defendant opened the door to his car and attempted to get out, pulling himself out by using the top of the door as support. While he spoke to the officer, defendant held the top of the car for support. He followed the officer over to the squad car and leaned against the side of that car while the officer called the station on his radio. Officer Theriault stated that he observed defendant’s “stumbling” walk as he followed him over to the squad' car.

Officer Theriault then transported defendant to the police station, where he assisted him in getting out of the squad car. The officer advised defendant of his right to remain silent and his right to counsel, after which defendant said that he would not answer any questions and would not take the breath analysis test. The defendant was told to remain seated but insisted on getting to his feet from time to time and walking around the room. Officer Theriault testified that at this time defendant’s walk was staggering and stumbling. He stated that defendant made several derogatory comments about the officer and police in general, bragged about the amount of his income, and used profane language. Officer Theriault concluded his testimony by saying that, in his opinion, defendant was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage when he was stopped in his motor vehicle and that he was not fit to operate a motor vehicle at the time.

Sergeant Thomas Klinger testified as the next witness for the State. He was called to come to the Rosemont Police Station by Officer Theriault to assist in the arrest processing of defendant. He was at the station when defendant was brought in by Officer Theriault. The testimony of Sergeant Klinger as to what took place at the station was generally the same as given by Officer Theriault, particularly regarding defendant’s condition, walk, and language.

The defendant testified in his own behalf. He stated that he had never been arrested for driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage prior to the present complaint, nor had he been arrested or been issued a citation for any traffic violation. On June 11, 1971, his day off from work, defendant had played a round of golf with Mr. Alfred Cicella. He did not drink any alcoholic beverage during or immediately after this game. He went to his house with Mr. Cicella and arrived at Mr. Cicella’s house for a surprise birthday party at 8:00 P.M.

At this party, defendant testified that he drank two “Manhattans” between 8:30 P.M. and 10:00 P.M. and ate a wide variety of hors d’ oeuvres. Sometime between 10:00 P.M. and midnight he drank a “straight bourbon and water” but he was not sure if he finished the entire drink. Defendant stated he did not have any other alcoholic drinks that evening. He left the party at about 3:00 A.M., and at that time he testified he was not under the influence of alcoholic beverages. The weather that day was extremely hot and humid. Defendant testified that in such weather the top of both his feet get painful blisters. (He had been treated before by a physician for this condition, which affected his walk.) As he drove home from the party he changed lanes several times to avoid holes in the street and puddles of water from a recent rain.

Defendant then testified that he was stopped by Officer Theriault, who made fun of defendant’s name when he handed him his driver’s license asking, “How does it feel to be a pig?” He stated that when he reached the police station, he was able to get out of the squad car without any assistance. He denied making any statement regarding the amount of his income to the officer and did not use any profane language.

Alfred Cicella testified next on the defendant’s behalf. His testimony generally agreed with that given by defendant as to the events of June 11 and 12, 1971, prior to the time defendant left his party. He remembered defendant complaining about the pain in his feet and said that he only saw defendant with three drinks that evening. In his opinion, defendant was not under the influence of alcohol when he left the party. Miss Ereen Bouzeanes, Mr. Cicella’s fiancee, gave the same opinion when she testified next.

A conviction for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol may be sustained though based entirely upon the arresting officers testimony and observation and not upon any scientific evidence of intoxication, such as a breath analysis test. (People v. Casa, 113 Ill.App. 2d 1, 251 N.E.2d 290.) Defendant acknowledges this, but argues that the officers’ testimony was so inconsistent and contradictory that a conviction based on this evidence cannot be sustained. Further, he contends that State’s witnesses were biased against the defendant and as a result of this bias they were unable to make a “correct appraisal of defendant’s ability to drive and his alleged intoxication.” We disagree with these contentions.

Examining the question of bias first, defendant’s position is somewhat unclear. The State’s witnesses testified that defendant had made several insulting remarks to them and had used profane language on at least one occasion. Defendant denied making any of these remarks when he testified, and he further testified that the arresting officer had in fact made an insulting comment regarding his surname. Defendant, in his brief, seems to argue that since the remarks were never made by him, that the State’s witnesses fabricated this story and therefore were biased against him.

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Related

People v. Ahern
456 N.E.2d 852 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1983)
People v. Wright
364 N.E.2d 355 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1977)
People v. Hayes
340 N.E.2d 593 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1975)
People v. Winfield
332 N.E.2d 634 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1975)
People v. Pigg
308 N.E.2d 190 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1974)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
308 N.E.2d 190, 17 Ill. App. 3d 568, 1974 Ill. App. LEXIS 3020, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-pigg-illappct-1974.