People v. Beil

The State appeals from a pretrial order suppressing evidence seized from the trunk of defendant’s car after a warrantless search alleged to have been conducted in violation of defendant’s constitutional rights. We reverse.

On October 6, 1980, Detective James Romani of the Oak Brook Police Department was stationed in an unmarked squad car in the Oak Brook Shopping Center parking lot. At approximately 8 p.m., Romani observed a maroon Cadillac with three occupants driving in the parking lot and stop near the officer’s car. The driver of the maroon Cadillac exited the car and opened its trunk;…