People v. Hopkins

The People bring this interlocutory appeal from the trial court’s order suppressing evidence obtained from a warrantless search of Willie Hopkins’ (defendant) fanny pack. The People argue that the trial court erred in suppressing statements made by defendant and evidence seized by applying the wrong legal standard for determining when a law enforcement official may conduct a search based upon the consent of a third party who does not have actual authority over that property. Because we conclude that the trial court erred and that the record before us is sufficient to determine that the search…