People v. Wardlow

Defendant, Sam Wardlow, was convicted of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon (720 ILCS 5/24 — 1.1(a) (West 1994)) following a stipulated bench trial in Cook County and was sentenced to a term of two years’ imprisonment. On appeal, the appellate court reversed defendant’s conviction, finding that defendant’s motion to suppress evidence should have been granted because the revolver seized from him was discovered as a result of an improper investigatory stop. 287 Ill. App. 3d 367. We allowed the State’s petition for leave to appeal. 166 Ill. 2d R. 315(a); 145 Ill. 2d R. 604(a)(2).

At the hearing…