People v. Thomas

Defendant, Bruce Thomas, was charged in the circuit court of Jefferson County with one count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. 720 ILCS 570/401(c)(2) (West 1998). Defendant moved to suppress evidence of purported cocaine that police seized from him during a “pat-down” search. The circuit court granted the motion. The State appealed to the appellate court, which reversed the suppression order. 315 Ill. App. 3d 849. We allowed defendant’s petition for leave to appeal (177 Ill. 2d R. 315(a)), and now affirm the appellate court.

BACKGROUND

The following evidence…