2019 IL App (2d) 170149
No. 2-17-0149
Opinion filed September 30, 2019
______________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
OF ILLINOIS, ) of Kane County.
)
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
)
v. ) No. 12-CF-162
)
LEAMON R. CAVITT JR., ) Honorable
) John A. Barsanti,
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE JORGENSEN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justices McLaren and Burke concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 After a jury trial in which he proceeded pro se, defendant, Leamon R. Cavitt Jr., was
convicted of possession with intent to deliver over 900 grams of cocaine (720 ILCS
570/401(a)(2)(D) (West 2012)), aggravated battery of a peace officer (720 ILCS 5/12-3.05(d)(4),
(f)(1) (West 2012)), and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer (625 ILCS
5/11-204.1(a)(2) (West 2012)). He was sentenced to consecutive prison terms of 30 years, 3
years, and 1 year, respectively. Defendant, now represented by counsel, appeals, arguing that (1)
the trial court committed reversible error when, in response to the jury’s request during
deliberations to view a surveillance-video exhibit, the court restricted the jury’s access to the
video, allowing only a single silent viewing in open court, and expressly discouraged the jury’s
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reliance on the video; and (2) his conviction of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace
officer should be reversed, because the State failed to prove that the officers involved wore
“police uniform[s]” (id. § 11-204(a), 11-204.1(a)). We reject defendant’s second argument, but
we conclude that the court committed error in denying the jury’s request for the video and
conducting the viewing of it. Accordingly, we reverse and remand for a new trial.
¶2 I. BACKGROUND
¶3 In January 2012, police officers from Carpentersville and from other law enforcement
agencies arranged for an undercover drug operation—specifically, a reverse-buy bust—wherein
officers posed as drug dealers, selling one kilogram of cocaine for $29,000 to defendant and
Sentoro Dunn. Several officers were assigned to surveillance and security and others were
assigned to arrest teams. Streamwood police detective Juan Carrillo and Addison police
detective Jose Gonzalez (Gonzalez) posed as the dealers. The operation occurred on January 17,
2012, at a McDonald’s restaurant at 1660 Ravine Lane in Carpentersville and resulted in
defendant’s and Dunn’s arrests.
¶4 A. Trial
¶5 Trial commenced on March 14, 2016. Under the State’s theory of the case, Carrillo
contacted Dunn, who acted as a middleman or broker for defendant, and they negotiated the
cocaine’s price and quantity and agreed to meet to execute the transaction. During opening
statements, the State informed the jury that the surveillance video of the transaction came from
the McDonald’s security camera and that it was “grainy and spotty video.” “And as you will see,
the frame rate is a little weak and it only shows one particular vantage point.” (The events
occurred in the restaurant’s west parking lot.) Police testimony, according to the State, would
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provide insight from other vantage points. The State then played for the jury a 16-minute, edited
version of the video.
¶6 1. Officer James Schuldt
¶7 Carpentersville police officer James Schuldt, who originated and oversaw the operation,
testified that he was part of the primary arrest team, which also included Carpentersville officers
Kevin Stankowitz, Chris Bognetti, and Joseph Murphy. The primary arrest vehicle they used
was a black van with no police markings. The van had curtains over the windows, so that no one
could see in but the officers could see out. The four primary arrest officers, according to
Schuldt, wore jeans, sweatshirts, and black tactical vests with police markings on the front and
back. He explained that the front markings said “police” in white lettering on the upper left chest
area and the back said “police” in white lettering “across the entire upper back.” The secondary
arrest team wore identical clothing. Part of Schuldt’s operation plan, which he communicated to
all officers, was that the officers, excluding the undercover officers and the two surveillance
officers inside the McDonald’s, wear clearly visible markings on their clothing so that
“everybody knows that we are the police out there.”
¶8 The team parked a sedan one spot south of the black van as a filler car, so that no
civilians would be close to the black van. Schuldt explained that there were two officers just
west of Ravine Road, facing east toward the restaurant. Further, the secondary arrest team was
in a blue minivan on the northeast side of the restaurant, out of view of the west side where the
black van was parked.
¶9 The undercover vehicle—a Buick—arrived at the McDonald’s and parked two spots
south of the black van and next to the sedan. Defendant’s vehicle was a tan Cadillac, and it
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arrived and parked two spots south of the Buick. A civilian vehicle was between the Cadillac
and the Buick.
¶ 10 The operation proceeded. Schuldt testified that, after Carrillo and Gonzalez walked
inside the McDonald’s, the Cadillac arrived. Schuldt observed two individuals in the vehicle,
defendant (the driver) and Dunn (the front-seat passenger). Dunn entered the restaurant and later
exited alone and walked to the passenger side of the Cadillac. Schuldt could not see what Dunn
and defendant were doing at the car. At some point, while holding a white plastic shopping bag,
Dunn walked toward the west side of the restaurant to where Carrillo and Gonzalez were
standing. The three men walked to the Buick and stood near the trunk. Dunn then got into the
passenger side of the Buick, and Carrillo got into the driver’s side. Gonzalez stood near the
front-passenger quarter-panel. When Schuldt observed the arrest signal, he and the primary
arrest team exited the black van and proceeded to the passenger side of the Buick to take Dunn
into custody. Stankowitz, with his gun drawn, and Schuldt opened the front passenger door and
Schuldt announced “Police, don’t move” and he and his team announced “Police. Police. You
are under arrest. Police. You are under arrest.” He reached in, grabbed Dunn, removed him
from the vehicle, and arrested him, walking him to the rear of the vehicle and, with Bognetti’s
assistance, placing him in handcuffs.
¶ 11 Schuldt testified that he observed several bundles of money throughout the front of the
Buick, including on the driver’s seat and the passenger floorboard, and that he observed one
kilogram of cocaine in the center console area.
¶ 12 Simultaneous to Dunn’s arrest, the blue minivan pulled up behind the Cadillac and
attempted to box it in so the officers could arrest defendant. Schuldt saw someone start to get
out of the Cadillac and observed the backup lights illuminate. He also saw the minivan’s
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passenger-side sliding door open, on the side facing the Cadillac. The Cadillac backed up at “a
pretty high rate of speed for that short of [a] distance” and struck the minivan as Streamwood
corporal Miguel Cabrales began to step out of the minivan. Schuldt heard a lot of shouting and
several pops, which he later learned were gunshots. (The minivan was parked behind the
Cadillac for less than five seconds before it was struck.) He also observed Gonzalez at the rear
passenger side of the Cadillac. The Cadillac then accelerated forward and went down an
embankment onto Ravine Road and traveled south, away from the restaurant.
¶ 13 Schuldt retrieved $30,000 in cash from throughout the front of the Buick.
¶ 14 2. Detective Juan Carrillo
¶ 15 Carrillo testified that, on January 16, 2012, he was asked to participate in a reverse-buy-
bust operation with the Carpentersville Police Department. As part of the operation, Carrillo
called Dunn that evening. Carrillo stated that he had heard that Dunn was looking for something,
and Dunn responded that he had been waiting for the call and was looking for some “groceries,”
which Carrillo took to mean drugs. Carrillo responded that he had some, for $25,000 or $30,000
(for one kilogram, or about 36 ounces, of cocaine), and Dunn stated that he needed “the good
stuff” for his cousin in St. Louis, who would “take the groceries to the kitchen,” which Carrillo
understood to mean that Dunn’s cousin would cook the powder cocaine to make crack cocaine.
After several more calls, Carrillo and Dunn agreed that they would meet the following day and
that Dunn would buy one kilogram of cocaine for $29,000. Dunn stated that his cousin would
bring the “papers,” i.e., money.
¶ 16 On January 17, 2012, Dunn told Carrillo over the phone that his cousin had the money
and would buy one kilogram of cocaine. Dunn, who was traveling from Rockford, would pick
up his cousin from a hotel, and they would meet Carrillo at a McDonald’s in Carpentersville.
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During the officers’ briefing that day, they decided to include Gonzalez as another undercover
officer, because the operation involved large amounts of narcotics and currency and unknown
individuals with unknown criminal histories.
¶ 17 Gonzalez drove with Carrillo in the Buick to the McDonald’s and parked on the west side
of the building. The rest of the police team was already there, and the kilogram of cocaine was
in the trunk of the Buick. Carrillo and Gonzalez entered the restaurant. Also inside, serving as
surveillance and rescue, were Addison detectives Roy Selvik and Greg Garofalo. They were in
street clothes and had no markings to indicate that they were police officers.
¶ 18 Carrillo and Gonzalez ordered food and sat at a table on the west side of the restaurant,
with a view of the parking lot where they had parked. Dunn called Carrillo to finalize directions
and inform him that he was traveling in the Cadillac. The Cadillac drove into the parking lot,
drove past the black van, the sedan, and the Buick, and parked two spots south of the Buick.
From the restaurant, Carrillo could see Dunn and defendant in the Cadillac. Dunn exited, walked
into the McDonald’s, exchanged greetings with Carrillo, and went to order food. Also, at one
point, Dunn showed Carrillo and Gonzalez his identification. Dunn told the officers that he had
the money, and they agreed to conduct the transaction.
¶ 19 Defendant exited the Cadillac, walked toward the trunk, and retrieved something that he
took back to the driver’s side of the vehicle. Defendant wore a brown baseball cap, a brown
shirt, and brown pants.
¶ 20 Carrillo, Gonzalez, and Dunn spent about five minutes in the restaurant and then walked
out. The officers remained by the door of the restaurant, and, after Carrillo asked to see the
money, Dunn went to retrieve it. He retrieved a white plastic grocery bag from the Cadillac,
walked back toward the officers, and opened the bag, which contained bundles of money.
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¶ 21 Carrillo suggested that they complete the deal in the Buick. Dunn agreed, and they
walked to the car. Dunn sat in the front passenger seat, and Gonzalez stood by the front
passenger area. Carrillo retrieved the cocaine from the trunk and walked to the front driver’s
side. When he opened the door, he saw bundles of money on the seat, some loose and some
banded together. He pushed aside the money, sat in the driver’s seat, and gave Dunn the
cocaine. Dunn put it by his feet. Dunn told Carrillo that there was $30,000 total but that they
had to remove $1000 as a finder’s fee for him, because he had brokered the transaction.
¶ 22 At this point, Carrillo saw the arrest team approach and heard them yelling, “Police,
hands, police, hands.” He exited the Buick, and the arrest team arrested Dunn. Carrillo then
heard others yelling, “Get the Cadillac, get the Cadillac.” Carrillo walked toward the driver’s-
side door of the Cadillac. Gonzalez then approached, as did the blue minivan. Carrillo identified
defendant as the sole occupant of the Cadillac.
¶ 23 Carrillo announced to defendant three or four times, “Police, get out of the car, police, get
out of the car.” Defendant made eye contact with Carrillo and then looked down and put the
Cadillac in gear. Carrillo yelled, “Put the car in park.” His gun was drawn, at his chest.
Defendant looked over his right shoulder. Carrillo heard the engine rev and the tires spinning.
The Cadillac moved in reverse. The blue minivan and Gonzalez were near the rear passenger
area. Carrillo moved back along with the Cadillac. Carrillo twice shot his gun in defendant’s
direction; he did not know if the bullets struck anything. The Cadillac’s rear driver’s-side corner
hit the blue minivan at the front passenger door area, bounced forward, and then again hit the
minivan. Carrillo heard gunshots. The Cadillac moved forward at a high rate of speed and drove
over a curb and some bushes, down an embankment, and south on Ravine Lane. Carrillo saw
that the rear window was broken.
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¶ 24 Carrillo wore a black baseball cap, a tan canvas coat, a red shirt, blue jeans, and work
boots. His clothing had no markings that identified him as a police officer.
¶ 25 Carrillo testified that the surveillance video does not depict the events in real time. The
images are “choppy and it’s frame by frame.”
¶ 26 On cross-examination, Carrillo stated that Dunn never told him his cousin’s name.
However, because Dunn said that he would be with his cousin, Carrillo believed that defendant
was the cousin.
¶ 27 At this point in the proceedings, defendant played portions of the surveillance video for
the jury. Carrillo identified himself, Gonzalez, and Dunn in the video. At time stamp 15:25,
Carrillo was at the driver’s side of the Cadillac. At 15:27, Carrillo was moving back along with
the Cadillac, and at 15:29, the Cadillac struck the blue minivan. (Also at this time, Stankowitz
stood in front of the Cadillac.) At 15:31, the Cadillac moved forward. At 14:40, Gonzalez
walked toward the front of the Cadillac; at 15:23, he was near the black van; at 15:25, he was
near the Buick; and, at 15:29, he was near the rear of the Cadillac.
¶ 28 Carrillo testified that he saw Gonzalez at the corner of the Cadillac before it started
moving. He could not recall seeing Cabrales.
¶ 29 On redirect examination, Carrillo testified that, because snow or ice obstructed the video,
it does not show him discharging his weapon or the Cadillac striking the blue minivan. Carrillo
estimated that he stood next to the Cadillac for only a few seconds.
¶ 30 3. Officer Kevin Stankowitz
¶ 31 Stankowitz testified that he was on the primary arrest team and was supposed to “arrest”
one of the undercover officers and then help out where needed.
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¶ 32 Stankowitz testified that the Buick was two parking spaces south of the black van, with
the sedan in between. When Stankowitz saw one of the undercover officers give the
predetermined arrest signal, Stankowitz alerted the rest of the team, exited the black van, and
waited at the rear of the van for the others to exit. Then, Stankowitz went to the front passenger-
side window of the Buick. His assignment was to get Dunn’s attention and open the door for the
officers behind him.
¶ 33 Stankowitz knocked loudly on the Buick’s window and gave loud verbal commands to
Dunn: “police department” and “let me see your hands.” He observed that Dunn was holding
money and had a bag of money on his lap. Dunn attempted to conceal the money by putting it
back in the bag. Stankowitz opened the door, and two other officers placed Dunn under arrest.
Next, Stankowitz “arrested” Gonzalez, to “play off the scenario as if they were not free to leave
also.”
¶ 34 Stankowitz wore a sweater, a black tactical vest with police markings on the front and the
back, and a badge around his neck. He also had a firearm on his right hip. Schuldt, Bognetti,
and Murphy also wore black vests with the same police markings.
¶ 35 After he “arrested” Gonzalez, Stankowitz turned his attention to the Cadillac. He saw
Carrillo standing at the driver’s side of the Cadillac, giving verbal commands and pointing his
weapon toward the vehicle. Stankowitz walked toward the Cadillac, and Carrillo continued to
give commands. The Cadillac started backing up when Stankowitz was near the front of the
vehicle next to the Cadillac. The blue minivan was about three to four feet behind the Cadillac at
this point and Stankowitz saw Cabrales exiting the minivan at the side passenger door closer to
the Cadillac. The Cadillac backed into the minivan in a “[v]ery quick manner.” Stankowitz
moved to the front passenger side of the Cadillac. He placed his hands on the hood as it came to
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a stop, looked at defendant, who looked back at him, and yelled “police” and told him to stop the
car. The Cadillac moved forward, and Stankowitz quickly had to move out of the way to avoid
being struck. Cabrales, who was near the rear of the Cadillac, discharged his weapon.
Stankowitz never drew his weapon, because there was a crossfire issue.
¶ 36 The Cadillac quickly drove through the parking lot and down an embankment. Its rear
window shattered from being shot.
¶ 37 Stankowitz testified that the surveillance video did not show everything as it occurred
from his perspective. It was “very choppy” and did not show, for example, when he “arrested”
Gonzalez.
¶ 38 On cross-examination, Stankowitz testified that Cabrales fired his weapon as the Cadillac
started moving forward. Stankowitz did not see Cabrales get struck by the Cadillac.
¶ 39 At this point, defendant played portions of the video. Stankowitz identified himself, at
time stamp 15:28, in front of the sedan. He stated that, at 15:29 or 15:30, he appeared to be
putting his hands on the Cadillac’s hood but could not be certain, due to the video’s lack of
clarity and “it not playing all the way through.”
¶ 40 4. Officer Joseph Murphy
¶ 41 Murphy testified that he was assigned to the primary arrest team. From his position in
the black van, Murphy could not see outside. After the arrest signal was given, Murphy alerted
everyone on the police radio and exited the van on the north side, out of the Cadillac’s view.
¶ 42 After Dunn was arrested, Murphy ran to the rear of the Cadillac, heard the engine rev,
and saw the vehicle start to move in reverse. To avoid being struck, Murphy moved to the
driver’s side, toward the trunk. He saw the Cadillac strike the blue minivan. Officers were
shouting orders. The engine started to rev again, and Murphy heard gunshots. The Cadillac
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drove out of the lot, went down an embankment, and turned left onto southbound Ravine Lane.
The tires were squealing, and the engine was very loud. It was traveling fast.
¶ 43 Murphy testified that the weather conditions were icy and snowy. There was a lot of
snow on the ground. Murphy wore blue jeans, a sweatshirt, and an outer vest carrier that had
police lettering on the front and back. He also wore a badge on his belt clip and held a firearm.
¶ 44 On cross-examination, Murphy testified that he saw Cabrales shooting. He did not see
the Cadillac strike Cabrales. Murphy saw the Cadillac strike the blue minivan twice and heard
gunshots before and after it struck the minivan the second time.
¶ 45 5. Sergeant Paul Murray
¶ 46 Murray was part of the secondary arrest team, along with Carpentersville sergeant
Ostrem and Cabrales. Initially, the blue minivan was parked on the northeast side of the
McDonald’s lot, to avoid being seen by Dunn and defendant. After the arrest signal was given,
the minivan moved and parked behind the Cadillac. As it came to a stop, Cabrales started
exiting the van via the passenger-side sliding door. Murray, who sat in the front passenger seat,
had his hand on the door handle, about to exit, when he saw the Cadillac’s backup lights come on
and heard the engine rev. The Cadillac struck the minivan, knocked Murray from his seat
“almost” to the driver’s-side floor “tub area.” He felt two additional but smaller impacts as he
tried to get back up to exit the minivan. Murray then heard several muffled pop sounds, which
he later learned were gunshots. He ducked and tried three times to open the door. He finally
exited the minivan, because the Cadillac had moved away. He unholstered his weapon.
Cabrales stood to his right and fired once. The Cadillac drove away from the area.
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¶ 47 Murray walked over a berm to ensure that the Cadillac was gone. He returned to the
scene and determined that three officers had fired their weapons. He learned that Cabrales was
struck by the Cadillac and needed medical attention.
¶ 48 Cabrales wore a raid jacket, which is a windbreaker with black police markings on the
front and back. He also wore a vest with police markings in a different color on the front; the
windbreaker covered the police markings on the back of the vest. Murray himself wore a light
tan shirt with no police markings and a vest with police markings in gold.
¶ 49 During cross-examination, defendant played the surveillance video and had Murray
describe certain actions depicted therein. At time stamp 15:28, the Cadillac began backing up.
Because of the snow, Murray was unsure if this was when the Cadillac struck the minivan. At
15:31, Murray tried to pick himself up. When Murray exited the minivan, the Cadillac was
facing west and moving slowly. When Cabrales fired his weapon, the Cadillac pulled forward.
¶ 50 On redirect, Murray testified that the video did not fairly and accurately depict all of the
events that occurred. First, because it is a frame-by-frame video and not in real time, some
action is missing between the frames. Second, there is no sound. Third, the officers’
perspectives were different from that portrayed in the video, which consists of an overview of the
parking lot.
¶ 51 6. Dr. Joseph Ogarek
¶ 52 Dr. Joseph Ogarek, an emergency room doctor at Lutheran General Hospital, treated
defendant. He asked defendant what brought him to the hospital, and defendant replied that he
was involved in a shooting. Defendant also stated that he was the driver of a vehicle and that he
thought he was involved in a suspected drug deal.
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¶ 53 On cross-examination, Ogarek testified that defendant was in critical condition at the
emergency room, but he agreed that defendant was not “on anesthetics” and was alert and
oriented to person, time, and place. Defendant had been shot in the cheek and had three holes in
his back consistent with gunshots.
¶ 54 On redirect, Ogarek testified that defendant’s responses to questions were logical and that
he was coherent the entire time.
¶ 55 7. Corporal Miguel Cabrales
¶ 56 Cabrales testified that he was part of the secondary arrest team. He wore a Streamwood
beanie with a badge that said “police officer,” a long-sleeved black shirt that said “police” along
the sleeves, an armor life vest that said “police” in white lettering on the front and back, a police
lanyard with his ID on it that said “police,” a hanging badge for the police department, a badge
on his belt, blue jeans, and gym shoes.
¶ 57 Once the blue minivan stopped behind the Cadillac, Cabrales exited the minivan, saw the
brake and reverse lights activate on the Cadillac, heard the engine revving, and heard the tires
spinning. The minivan was two to three feet behind the Cadillac. As Cabrales’s feet hit the
ground, the Cadillac hit him and the right rear panel of the minivan. The upper portion of his
body flew forward onto the Cadillac’s trunk. While he was on the Cadillac, it moved forward
and back again. When he got to the right rear of the Cadillac, he heard two gunshots. Cabrales
looked inside the vehicle and saw defendant looking at him. Thinking that defendant shot at
him, Cabrales retrieved his weapon and fired into the Cadillac seven times. Carrillo was the only
other officer he saw as he fired his weapon. Cabrales suffered a bruised left thigh.
¶ 58 On cross-examination, Cabrales testified that the Cadillac was parked at a 45-degree
angle and that the right rear portion simultaneously struck him and the minivan.
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¶ 59 8. Detective Roy Selvik
¶ 60 Selvik testified that he and Garofalo, his partner, were assigned as inside surveillance and
safety for the undercover officers. Selvik and Garofalo were dressed in plainclothes with no
identifiable markings.
¶ 61 While Selvik sat at a table with a view of the west parking lot, he saw the Buick arrive.
Carrillo and Gonzalez entered the restaurant and sat at a table. Selvik could see them but could
not hear their conversation. He also saw the Cadillac arrive. Dunn and defendant exited the
Cadillac and walked to the rear of the vehicle. They talked, and then Dunn walked into the
restaurant. Defendant opened the trunk, retrieved a white grocery bag that had some items
inside, and got back in the driver’s seat.
¶ 62 Dunn sat and spoke with Carrillo and Gonzalez. He then got up, ordered food, and
returned to the table. They conversed and then got up and exited through the west door. Carrillo
and Gonzalez remained near the door, and Dunn walked to the Cadillac, retrieved from the
passenger side the white bag, walked back toward the officers, and showed them the bag’s
contents. The three men then walked to the Buick. Gonzalez walked toward the passenger side,
near the trunk area; Dunn entered the passenger side; and Carrillo entered the driver’s side.
Then, Gonzalez walked toward the front passenger side, and Carrillo walked to the trunk and
opened it.
¶ 63 While Selvik and Garofalo were still inside the restaurant, they saw Carrillo pull out a
bag from the Buick’s trunk, go back to the driver’s side, and enter the car. A few moments later,
Gonzalez gave the “bust” signal for the primary arrest team to come. Selvik and Garofalo exited
the restaurant to assist the arrest team as they pulled up in the black van. Several officers exited
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the van. They were dressed in plainclothes but with identifiable police markings, tactical vests,
and badges on their belts. They went to the passenger side of the Buick.
¶ 64 Selvik also observed the blue minivan arrive, and he and Garofalo went to assist the
secondary arrest team, because Dunn had already been taken into custody. They walked around
the back of the minivan, on the passenger side. Selvik saw Carrillo run to the driver’s side of the
Cadillac, shouting “Police, police.” Gonzalez was on the passenger side. Selvik saw Cabrales
exit the minivan.
¶ 65 Selvik saw the reverse lights activate on the Cadillac, Cabrales jump out of the way, and
the Cadillac strike the minivan. He was not aware if Cabrales had been struck.
¶ 66 On cross-examination, Selvik described various events in the video. He testified that the
conversation between defendant and Dunn by the trunk of the Cadillac was not depicted in the
video. Selvik heard gunshots but did not see anyone shooting.
¶ 67 9. Detective Jose Gonzalez
¶ 68 Gonzalez corroborated Carrillo’s account of Dunn’s and defendant’s arrival at the
McDonald’s. Gonzalez testified that, when Dunn entered the McDonald’s, Gonzalez noticed a
large bulge on his right side. Gonzalez was concerned that it was a gun. While Dunn was
ordering his meal, Gonzalez alerted Carrillo to what he had observed and they agreed that
Gonzalez would confront Dunn about it. After Dunn returned to the table, Gonzalez asked about
the bulge. According to Gonzalez, Dunn stated that “it is all cool” and moved his shirt to reveal
that he had two cell phones in his waistband.
¶ 69 During the meal, Gonzalez asked Dunn if he had the money for the cocaine, and Dunn
replied that he did. When the three men exited the restaurant, Dunn went to the Cadillac’s
passenger side and retrieved a white plastic bag. When he returned to Gonzalez and Carrillo, he
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stated, “you see, I’m legit, I got the money.” He opened the bag and showed them large bundles
of money. The three men then walked to the Buick. Gonzalez stopped at the rear of the vehicle
and, for safety reasons, scanned the parking lot and looked at the Cadillac. Carrillo sat in the
Buick’s driver’s seat, and Dunn sat in the passenger seat. The trunk popped open, and Carrillo
walked to the trunk to retrieve the cocaine, while Gonzalez walked to the front passenger-side
quarter panel (to keep an eye on Dunn, to be on the lookout to ensure the officers’ safety, and to
be in position to give the arrest signal). Carrillo returned to the driver’s seat, but had to push
away stacks of money that Dunn had placed on the seat. Dunn handed Carrillo stacks of money,
and Carrillo handed Dunn the cocaine. Gonzalez then gave the arrest signal to the primary arrest
team.
¶ 70 The primary arrest team arrived on foot at the passenger side of the Buick and took Dunn
into custody. Gonzalez walked away from the arrest team and toward the restaurant. He heard
someone yell, “get the Cadillac, get the Cadillac.” He and Carrillo walked toward the Cadillac.
On his way, he heard Carrillo yell to defendant, “stop, police, get out of the vehicle.” Gonzalez
also ordered defendant to get out of the vehicle and identified himself as a police officer. He and
Carrillo ordered defendant to put the vehicle in park.
¶ 71 However, Gonzalez saw the reverse lights come on and the Cadillac move in reverse.
Gonzalez drew his gun and saw the Cadillac strike Cabrales on his upper leg area. Gonzalez was
concerned that the Cadillac was going to crush Cabrales and strike Carrillo and himself.
Gonzalez raised his gun and began firing at defendant; at the time, he believed that he had fired
about five rounds, but he came to learn that he had fired more rounds.
¶ 72 When the Cadillac moved forward, Gonzalez was not aware of any officers besides
Cabrales and Carrillo. The Cadillac drove over an embankment, turned left, and fled.
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¶ 73 Gonzalez testified that the surveillance video was not a fair and accurate depiction of
what occurred, because the images were like snapshots, it was not a continuous recording, it was
not in color, there was snow over the lens, there was no audio, and the angles were not ideal. It
did, however, depict some of the events. Gonzalez also viewed People’s exhibit No. 23, which
consists of 16 minutes of the surveillance video, beginning about 30 seconds before the Cadillac
arrives at the McDonald’s and ending about 30 seconds after it leaves. The 40 to 45 minutes of
footage that are excluded contain nothing relevant. Exhibit No. 23 was admitted into evidence
and played in open court. The trial court gave the jury a limiting instruction that it was not to
determine time based on either video and that the time stamps did not accurately reflect the time
that had elapsed. It could, however, use them to observe what happened in the parking lot and
the sequence of events.
¶ 74 On cross-examination, Gonzalez testified that he was at the rear passenger side of the
Cadillac the entire time he was firing his weapon. At this point, defendant played portions of the
surveillance video. At time stamp 16:07, Gonzalez identified himself standing at the rear of the
Buick, wearing a black jacket with lettering on the back. At 17:04, Gonzalez identified himself
at the rear driver’s side of the minivan. At 17:13, he could not identify the individual in the
frame.
¶ 75 Gonzalez admitted that, when he stated that Dunn said that he had the money, Gonzalez
could not recall if Dunn said “he,” in the singular, or “we,” plural. Dunn never referred to
defendant as his cousin in Gonzalez’s presence.
¶ 76 10. Detective Victor Lizotte
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¶ 77 Carpentersville detective Victor Lizotte testified that he was part of the surveillance team,
stationed in unmarked Ford Taurus, with Carpentersville detective Jorge Gonzalez. They were
parked in a strip mall parking lot, across from the McDonald’s, on the other side of Ravine Lane.
¶ 78 After the Cadillac drove over the embankment and turned left onto Ravine Lane, Lizotte
and Jorge Gonzalez pursued the Cadillac. The Taurus was equipped with low-profile lights and
a siren. The low-profile lights were below the visor area and in the grillwork; they consisted of
red and blue lights that flashed when activated. The vehicle had no decals and no light bar on
top.
¶ 79 Lizotte activated the lights and the siren while pursuing defendant. The officers followed
defendant south on Ravine Lane, then east on North Lake Parkway, then south on Route 25. At
the intersection of Routes 25 and 68, the Cadillac stopped when it encountered traffic. The
Taurus was directly behind the Cadillac.
¶ 80 Lizotte and Jorge Gonzalez exited the Taurus and approached the Cadillac. Lizotte
approached on the driver’s side and Jorge Gonzalez on the passenger side. Lizotte yelled,
“Police, put your hands up.” Lizotte had his gun drawn at “low ready,” which is at a 45-degree
angle and aimed in the general direction of the target. At this point, the rear window had been
shot out and the driver’s-side window had a softball-sized hole in it. Lizotte could not “see very
much” inside the car. He grabbed the door handle, but the door was locked. He then struck the
window to knock out more glass.
¶ 81 Defendant, whose hands were on the steering wheel, turned, and his right hand dropped
down along his right leg and then came up. He turned toward Lizotte, and Lizotte saw a dark
object in defendant’s hand. Lizotte believed that defendant was “going for a gun,” and he fired a
round at defendant. He was unaware if a bullet struck him.
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¶ 82 Defendant then continued south on Route 25. Lizotte and Jorge Gonzalez returned to the
Taurus, and a marked squad car, with lights and siren activated, pulled in front of their vehicle
and continued south on Route 25.
¶ 83 Lizotte wore a shirt, tie, and jacket, with a badge and a gun on his belt. Underneath his
jacket he wore a tactical outer carrier vest with a police emblem on it. Jorge Gonzalez was
similarly dressed.
¶ 84 On cross-examination, Lizotte testified that, after he broke off some of the window glass,
he could partially see defendant’s face.
¶ 85 11. Officer Brad VanHorn
¶ 86 Carpentersville officer Brad VanHorn testified that, while on his lunch break on January
17, 2012, he heard Murphy on the police radio state that shots had been fired. VanHorn was
aware of the reverse-buy operation at the McDonald’s, so he drove his marked squad car north
on Route 25. VanHorn also heard on the police radio a description of the Cadillac and its
direction of travel. He saw a Cadillac that matched the description exceeding the speed limit.
VanHorn activated his car’s lights and siren, made a U-turn and followed the vehicle.
Eventually, VanHorn caught up to and was immediately behind the Cadillac. They headed east
on Route 72, through East Dundee, South Barrington, and Hoffman Estates. They traveled over
80 miles per hour in sleet and snow. The Cadillac ran red lights and drove on the median in both
the left and right lanes, in violation of traffic laws. At Route 72 and Gannon Road, VanHorn lost
sight of the Cadillac.
¶ 87 VanHorn approached a Hoffman Estates patrol unit that had stopped traffic at Route 72
and Golf Road. He followed that unit and then several others that he believed had information
about the pursuit of defendant. Ultimately, VanHorn saw the Cadillac stopped at an Itasca
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McDonald’s. There were about 25 squad cars in the restaurant parking lot. Defendant was on
the ground and his face was bleeding.
¶ 88 VanHorn further testified that his squad car had a dashboard video camera that activates
when the emergency lights are turned on or when it is manually activated. He reviewed the
video from the incident and stated that it fairly and accurately portrays the events that day.
People’s exhibit No. 5, a nine-minute video, was admitted and published for the jury.
¶ 89 12. Angela Mathews
¶ 90 Mathews, a crime-scene investigator for the Illinois State Police, testified that she
assisted with processing the crime scenes in Carpentersville. On January 18, 2012, she
participated in executing a search warrant on the Cadillac. The vehicle was registered to
defendant, at 1659 North 36th Street, East St. Louis. Mathews located on the driver’s seat a
Sprint rebate form in a bloodstained, sealed envelope that had defendant’s name and address on
it.
¶ 91 On cross-examination, Mathews testified that the Cadillac had 31 defects on the exterior
and interior. There was also damage on one side. Some of the defects were consistent with
bullet holes and some of them indicated a left-to-right trajectory. There was blood on the
steering wheel and the dash area, the center console, and the front seats.
¶ 92 13. Sergeant Matt Ostrem
¶ 93 Carpentersville sergeant Matt Ostrem drove the blue minivan with the secondary arrest
team. He was assigned to block the vehicle the suspects arrived in and take them into custody.
Also in minivan were Murray and Cabrales.
¶ 94 Ostrem parked the blue minivan behind the Cadillac to prevent it from leaving. His team
was to exit the minivan and arrest any occupant of the Cadillac. When the minivan stopped,
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Ostrem heard the passenger-side sliding door open. Moments later, Ostrem saw the Cadillac’s
reverse lights come on. He heard the tires screeching on the icy pavement and saw the Cadillac
back into the van. He felt it strike the minivan, rocking it left and right. Murray fell in between
the two front seats. Ostrem could not see Cabrales. The minivan sustained a dent in the front
third of the passenger door.
¶ 95 After the Cadillac hit the minivan, the Cadillac rolled away about one or two feet and
then, with the tires still spinning in reverse, it hit the minivan a second time. The reverse lights
then went off, and the tires started spinning forward. The Cadillac accelerated rapidly over a
curb, traveled down an embankment, and continued onto Ravine Lane.
¶ 96 As the Cadillac rammed the minivan, Ostrem, Murray, and Cabrales were discharging
their firearms. Once the Cadillac fled, Ostrem exited the van.
¶ 97 Sometime later, Ostrem went to the Buick with Schuldt to collect evidence. He observed
money scattered about the front seat. The officers collected the money. Later, the officers
counted the money, which totaled $30,000.
¶ 98 Ostrem also testified as an expert on narcotics possession, possession with intent to
deliver, and delivery. He opined that the cocaine seized in this case was possessed with the
intent to deliver, not for personal use. The main factor in support of this conclusion was the
amount of the cocaine—over 900 grams—which is well beyond any personal-use amount.
Another factor was that defendant traveled a great distance, from East St. Louis, to purchase the
cocaine. A normal user would not travel six or seven hours to purchase cocaine. Traveling with
cocaine would risk arrest, and one would undertake that risk only “when the return on investment
is greater than using it.” The cocaine would be broken down into smaller amounts and sold for
profit.
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¶ 99 On cross-examination, Ostrem testified that he could not recall if he saw someone
standing by the driver’s side of the Cadillac when he approached it. As he pulled up, Ostrem
recalled, Stankowitz was by the front right corner of the Cadillac.
¶ 100 14. Rhonda Earl
¶ 101 Rhonda Earl, a drug chemist for the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services,
testified as an expert on narcotic analysis and identification. She testified that the substance
seized weighed 993.3 grams and tested positive for cocaine, which is a controlled substance.
¶ 102 15. Sergeant Jon Plimpton
¶ 103 Plimpton, a Village of Schaumburg police sergeant, testified that he was working patrol
on January 17, 2012. At 12:50 p.m., he received a radio dispatch with information that police
officers were pursuing a Cadillac traveling east on Route 72. Later, he learned that the Cadillac
was proceeding east on Bode Road, which runs into Schaumburg. The Cadillac then traveled on
Roselle Road and Schaumburg Road. Plimpton alerted other officers and had stop sticks, which
are hollow spikes intended to deflate tires, set up near Plum Grove Road. As the Cadillac
approached Plum Grove Road, defendant slammed the brakes, made a U-turn, and avoided the
sticks. Defendant then traveled west on Schaumburg Road. Plimpton drove east, saw the
Cadillac, and drove across lanes of traffic to try to pin the vehicle, but it sped past him. Plimpton
and other officers, who were all in marked squad cars (Plimpton’s car and the cars in front of
him had their sirens and lights activated), pursued the Cadillac. The chase proceeded through
Schaumburg and Elk Grove Village to Irving Park Road, traveling at speeds from 40 to 80 miles
per hour. Ultimately, Plimpton’s squad car was immediately behind the Cadillac and they
proceeded east on Irving Park Road. At Prospect Avenue in Itasca, defendant made a hard left
turn into a McDonald’s parking lot. As defendant came to a stop, Plimpton pursued him into the
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lot. Plimpton observed defendant lean over the passenger side of the vehicle, as if trying to
retrieve something.
¶ 104 Plimpton pulled behind the Cadillac, opened his driver’s-side door, and took cover
behind it. He drew his sidearm and instructed defendant to put up his hands and to lie on the
ground. Defendant complied. After backup arrived, Plimpton arrested defendant and had other
officers contact paramedics. Plimpton’s squad car was not equipped with a dash camera. The
State rested.
¶ 105 16. Defendant
¶ 106 Defendant testified in his own defense. He stated that he met Dunn around August or
September of 2011, when Dunn expressed an interest in investing in defendant’s record label.
On January 17, 2012, defendant, who was in Chicago, went to Rockford to meet with Dunn.
Dunn’s driver’s license had been suspended for DUI, so defendant drove Dunn to Carpentersville
because Dunn wanted to meet someone.
¶ 107 They arrived at the McDonald’s, and defendant believed that Dunn wanted only to get
some food. However, Dunn asked defendant to get a bag out of the trunk.
¶ 108 Defendant sat inside his car, listening to music. He could not see Dunn being arrested
two cars away. Carrillo approached defendant’s car, tried to open the door, and asked defendant
to exit the car. Carrillo was not dressed as a police officer. Defendant immediately put the car
in reverse and tried to back out of the parking spot. He saw the blue minivan behind him,
stepped on the brakes, and bumped the vehicle. Because Carrillo was standing to his side with a
gun, defendant “immediately out of reaction put my car into drive and drove forward.” As he
drove forward, he heard shots. Defendant continued driving and he was hit in the face by a
bullet that came through the back window. “I am trying to process the fact that somebody either
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shot me in front of the police or the police just shot me. So what I did is I just kept driving. I
drove until I was for sure that I saw a bunch of police officers, a lot of police officers.” When he
saw the officers, he pulled into the Itasca McDonald’s and surrendered.
¶ 109 On cross-examination, defendant testified that he met with Dunn on January 17, 2012, at
about 10 a.m., and the two went to Carpentersville. “He told me he was going to meet someone
but he didn’t tell me the reason why.” Defendant stated that he did not know that the white
plastic bag contained $30,000 in cash. He further testified that he did not see Dunn come out of
the restaurant and walk to the Buick with two other individuals. Nor did he notice the police
activity there, including the four police officers screaming at the Buick. Defendant was listening
to music and was parked between two sport utility vehicles.
¶ 110 When Carrillo approached his car, defendant did not hear him announce that he was a
police officer. Defendant thought that he was going to be robbed or shot. He felt only one
impact with the blue minivan. He did not see any other officers by his vehicle.
¶ 111 After defendant drove over the embankment and onto the road, he was shot. He drove to
his left and down another road and then stopped behind traffic. While he was stopped, he saw
red and blue police lights on a vehicle behind him and heard police sirens. He did not stop to
speak to the police officers about what happened. He kept driving after “someone smacked on
my window.” He did not see that person, as he was looking at the woman in the car in front of
him, who was looking at defendant with fear on her face. The person who smacked his window,
according to defendant, did not yell “police, put your hands up” or order him to get out of his
vehicle. Defendant drove off and ended up 20 miles from where he was initially shot. At some
point, he was aware that police officers were following him. He saw squad cars behind him,
with lights and sirens. Defendant did not want to be stopped by the police that day, but he was
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not trying to avoid them. Defendant testified that he was not familiar with the area and was
looking for a place to stop where he could see a lot of people. He had not been aware that more
than two squad cars were following him. However, he said, two or three would not be enough
for him to stop, “not when [he had] been shot” and “if they [were in] the same department.”
¶ 112 Defendant denied making a U-turn to avoid a roadblock. Defendant rested.
¶ 113 17. Surveillance Video
¶ 114 The 16-minute surveillance video shows defendant and Dunn arriving in the Cadillac. It
also shows defendant retrieving the plastic bag from the trunk, Dunn returning to the Cadillac
from the restaurant and retrieving the bag, the blue minivan arriving and stopping behind the
Cadillac, officers surrounding the Cadillac, and defendant backing up toward the blue minivan
and then fleeing forward over the embankment. The center of the lens is blocked by ice or snow,
and, as related at trial, the images are choppy.
¶ 115 B. Closing Arguments and Exhibits Conference
¶ 116 During closing arguments, the prosecutor commented, “You look at that video for what
it’s worth” and “We showed you the video for what it was worth.”
¶ 117 Defendant, during his closing, asserted that there were discrepancies in the testimony of
the officers who were shown in the video.
¶ 118 During rebuttal, the State argued:
“Ladies and gentlemen, nothing in the law says this video has to be—this crime
has to have been captured on the video in order for you to find the defendant guilty. You
have seen the video. You have seen what it shows. You have seen what it doesn’t show.
Also you know what it doesn’t show? It doesn’t show an arrest signal but it
should be on there because it’s in the viewing area.
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You know what else it doesn’t show? Three officers discharging their firearms.
Keep that in mind if you have the opportunity to look at that video again in assessing how
much it helps you. You cannot watch that video and decide from that video alone what
happened in this case, ladies and gentlemen. You have to rely on the testimony much
like you would if that video didn’t even exist. So look at that testimony. Judge the
credibility of the testimony. Use your common sense. Does [sic] the things that the
witnesses testified to make sense? Test it against each other. Look at the bias of the
defendant that he has in getting on that witness stand and testifying. Test all of that,
ladies and gentlemen. Look at the corroboration. Look at the credibility. Use your
common sense.”
¶ 119 After closing arguments, during the conference concerning the admission of the exhibits,
defendant asked that the jury be given the surveillance video. The prosecutor commented that
the State was not asking for the video to go back to the jury, “based on my previous experience
of judges sending videos back. They need to have equipment to play it, make sure they can’t
look at anything else.” The trial court denied defendant’s request, stating, “I am not going to
send back the video at this point.” Further,
“[THE COURT:] If they ask for the video, then I am going to arrange something
for them to do. In any event, I am not sending them back. If they ask to see the video,
within my discretion, I will make my final decision then, but probably what I am going to
do is have them come back in the courtroom and look at it again—
THE DEFENDANT: Okay.
THE COURT: —because I want—you’d have to send equipment back there. I
can’t control how many times they look at it. They could control it. They could look at it
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a thousand times. I think that’s unfairly highlighting certain evidence, so I am not going
to send any videos back.
If I get a question or request, then we will deal with it at that time. So over—I am
going to deny defendant’s request to send videos back.”
¶ 120 C. Jury Deliberations
¶ 121 During deliberations, the jury sent a note to the court, asking for the full surveillance
video on a computer. Before the State and defendant, the court stated: “We thought this may
happen. The part that bothers me, of course, is the full video aspect of it. I am not going to let
them take the laptop back there. We are going to play it once in the courtroom.” The State
confirmed that the full video had been admitted but not published. The court stated, “Can’t do
that then.” The State further confirmed that it had played the 16-minute video.
¶ 122 The trial court asked defendant if he had any response or comment, and he replied, “No.”
He did, though, object to the video being played on a television rather than a larger screen. The
court overruled his objection.
¶ 123 The trial court decided that the 16-minute video would be shown to the jury. It also
proposed that the video could not be stopped and that there would be no questions. The State
and defendant had no objection. The trial court decided that the video would be played on a
television stationed by the jury box.
¶ 124 With the jury back in the courtroom, the court stated, “I am going to play the video for
you. We are going to look at it in the courtroom here. I am going to play the video.” It further
explained:
“Now, the process by which we are going to do this is no questions can being
[sic] asked. No lawyers are going to talk to you. Nobody is going to talk to you but me
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and we are going to run through that 16 minute video, People’s 23, one time.
I don’t know if you retained all of your notebooks and everything because you
can take notes if you wish to do that.
We will run that through one time. I am not going to run through it again. We
can’t answer any questions you may have based on that video. You have to look at it
yourself and draw whatever determinations or whatever information you can from that.
Let me explain a little bit, just so you understand, and the reason I am doing it this
way is because in my experience, if you send the video back there, that [sic] it could be
viewed a thousand times. Now, there is no other evidence that you are going to view a
thousand times, just that evidence. That’s—there is no other evidence you are going to
view twice like you are the video in this matter or this particular video.
I don’t think it’s fair to the parties to overemphasize one piece of evidence over
any other piece of evidence. That’s how this thing gets played out.
If you asked me if could [sic] bring some other witnesses and put them back on
the stand, see, we couldn’t do that. We can’t do—you can’t be given that more than
one—more than the time that they are allowed to you, so we will do it once. I understand
that it’s significant. I find it’s fair. We can do it one time.
It’s not fair for any lawyers to say anything or the defendant to say anything. We
are just going to view it in silence. When we are done, we will send you back to the jury
room to further your deliberations.”
¶ 125 D. Verdicts and Subsequent Proceedings
¶ 126 The jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts: possession with intent to deliver over 900
grams of cocaine; attempted first-degree murder of Stankowitz (720 ILCS 5/8-4(a), 9-1(a)(1)
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(West 2012)); aggravated battery of Cabrales, Murray, and Ostrem; and aggravated fleeing or
attempting to elude a peace officer.
¶ 127 Defendant filed a motion for a new trial. He raised several issues, including the
sufficiency of the evidence and the trial court’s refusal to allow the jury to have the surveillance
video in the jury room. On November 3, 2016, the trial court denied defendant’s motion but
entered judgment notwithstanding the verdict on the two counts of attempted first-degree
murder, finding that defendant had intended to elude, not to kill, Stankowitz. In announcing its
ruling, the court noted that it had reviewed the transcripts and “the video recordings that were
submitted at trial, both the edited version and also submitted as an exhibit was the unedited
version. I looked at both of those again to refresh the Court’s memory.” (Emphases added.)
Explaining its denial of the jury’s request for the surveillance video in the jury room, the court
stated:
“I do have—the reason I don’t do that is because I feel that if you leave the video
in the jury room with the jury with the means to play that video, then it cannot be
controlled of [sic] how many times they look at it. I suppose I could order them to only
look at it one time, but, again, I find when I leave it at their control, that I have no way of
knowing whether that actually occurred. Whereas, if I show them the video one time in
the courtroom without any questions being asked, just the viewing of the video,
obviously the amount of time that they view that video is completely controlled, and I
think that’s more fair to all the parties involved. That’s my reason why I just exercised
my discretion and did it that way.”
¶ 128 In addressing the attempted-murder charges, the trial court commented:
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“The video itself is choppy when viewing this particular situation. I viewed it several
times, both videos, to get a very good—to try to see what information I could glean from
the admitted videos; and, again, the time lapse on the trial counter was not accurate as to
the time, so that was not helpful. And, again, the video is somewhat choppy. I did see an
officer there. I did see, I think it was, an officer, a person move a step or so backwards
from the car before the car went down the embankment.”
¶ 129 The trial court sentenced defendant to 30 years’ imprisonment for possession of cocaine
with intent to deliver; 3 years’ imprisonment for aggravated battery to a peace officer; and 1 year
imprisonment for aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer. It further found that
consecutive sentences were necessary to protect the public and thus ordered that the three prison
terms be served consecutively. Defendant, now represented by counsel, appeals.
¶ 130 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 131 A. Surveillance Video
¶ 132 Defendant argues that the trial court committed reversible error when, in response to the
jury’s request to view the surveillance video, the court allowed only a single, silent viewing in
open court and expressly discouraged the jury’s reliance on the video. For the following reasons,
we agree.
¶ 133 Initially, we note that defendant acknowledges that he did not object when the court
imposed the restrictions in the middle of the deliberations (although he did do so at the outset of
the deliberations and in his posttrial motion, arguing that the video should have been given to the
jury). Thus, the issue was forfeited and may not be considered on appeal, unless there was plain
error. Ill. S. Ct. R. 615(a) (eff. Jan. 1, 1967).
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“[T]he plain-error doctrine bypasses normal forfeiture principles and allows a
reviewing court to consider unpreserved error when either (1) the evidence is close,
regardless of the seriousness of the error, or (2) the error is serious, regardless of the
closeness of the evidence. In the first instance, the defendant must prove ‘prejudicial
error.’ That is, the defendant must show both that there was plain error and that the
evidence was so closely balanced that the error alone severely threatened to tip the scales
of justice against him [or her]. *** In the second instance, the defendant must prove
there was plain error and that the error was so serious that it affected the fairness of the
defendant’s trial and challenged the integrity of the judicial process. People v. Keene,
169 Ill. 2d 1, 17 (1995). Prejudice to the defendant is presumed because of the
importance of the right involved, ‘regardless of the strength of the evidence.’ (Emphasis
in original.) People v. Blue, 189 Ill. 2d 99, 138 (2000). In both instances, the burden of
persuasion remains with the defendant.” People v. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d 167, 186-87
(2005).
¶ 134 The defendant must first establish that a clear or obvious error occurred. People v.
McLaurin, 235 Ill. 2d 478, 497-98 (2009). “ ‘[T]he plain error exception will be invoked only
where the record clearly shows that an alleged error affecting substantial rights was
committed.’ ” (Emphasis in original.) People v. Hillier, 237 Ill. 2d 539, 549 (2010) (quoting
People v. Hampton, 149 Ill. 2d 71, 102 (1992)).
¶ 135 Defendant argues that the trial court’s response to the jury’s request to view the video
during deliberations was erroneous in three ways: (1) it violated the privacy of deliberations by
requiring that the jury be silent while viewing the video in open court in the presence of the
judge, the parties, counsel, court personnel, and spectators; (2) it limited the jury to a single
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viewing; and (3) it invaded the jury’s role as fact finder by admonishing the jury that repeated
viewings of the video would improperly emphasize that exhibit over other evidence in the case.
Defendant asserts that the fallacy of the trial court’s restrictions and admonishments was made
plain after trial, when the court itself relied on its own repeated viewings of the video to overturn
the jury’s verdict on the most serious counts—attempted first-degree murder. He urges that the
court’s actions deprived him of a fair trial and that this court should reverse his convictions and
remand for a new trial. In defendant’s view, the video was key evidence used by both the State
and the defense to support their theories of the case. Further, during trial, everyone
acknowledged the video’s poor quality, including that there was ice or snow on the lens and that
the footage was not continuous or seamless. On the latter point, the court admonished the jury
that the video was “choppy” and that it should not use the timer displayed on the screen to
measure the actual time of the events. Defendant notes that the State played the video during
opening statements, indicating, from the commencement of the trial, the video’s significance.
Further, the State’s witnesses testified regarding the video to support their versions of the events.
Defendant, in turn, testified that he did not know that the people who approached him were
police officers, and he played a portion of the video that emphasized its limitations and the ways
in which it did not support the officers’ testimony. He notes that Stankowitz admitted on cross-
examination that the video did not show his hands on the hood of the Cadillac. Also, Murray
testified that he felt the blue minivan receive multiple impacts, but, on cross-examination, he
admitted that the video showed defendant’s car go forward only once after it backed into the
minivan.
¶ 136 The trial court has discretion to assess a jury’s request to review evidence, including
which exhibits jurors may have in the jury room. People v. Rouse, 2014 IL App (1st) 121462, ¶
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77. We will not reverse the trial court’s decision unless it was an abuse of discretion. Id. An
abuse of discretion occurs where no reasonable person would take the court’s view. People v.
Chambers, 2016 IL 117911, ¶ 68.
¶ 137 “It is a basic principle of our justice system that jury deliberations shall remain private
and secret. [Citation.] The primary purpose of this honored rule is to protect the jurors from
improper influence. [Citation.] Although the presence of a third party impinges on the privacy
and secrecy of deliberations, reversal is not warranted if no harm resulted from the intrusion.”
People v. Johnson, 2015 IL App (3d) 130610, ¶ 17; see United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725,
737-41 (1993) (mere presence, but not participation, of alternate jurors during jury deliberations
warrants reversal only if the defendant suffers prejudice as a result of the intrusion; but “[t]here
may be cases where an intrusion should be presumed prejudicial”). In the context of replaying
videotaped testimony, it has been noted that doing so might lead the jury to overemphasize that
testimony. 75B Am. Jur. 2d Trial § 1390 (2019). Thus, courts have held that videotaped
testimony should be replayed in open court, under the trial court’s supervision, and with the
defendant and counsel present. Id.
¶ 138 In Illinois, authority is currently split as to whether it is error for a trial judge to have the
jury view, during deliberations, nontestimonial video evidence in the courtroom, with the judge,
counsel, and the defendant present. The First, Fourth, and Fifth Districts (and earlier Third
District cases) have concluded that it does not constitute reversible error. People v. Ryder, 2019
IL App (5th) 160027, ¶¶ 47-51 (in dicta); People v. Lewis, 2019 IL App (4th) 150637-B, ¶¶ 87,
95; People v. McKinley, 2017 IL App (3d) 140752, ¶¶ 14, 22; People v. Johnson, 2015 IL App
(3d) 130610, ¶ 20; People v. Rouse, 2014 IL App (1st) 121462, ¶ 78. The Third District has
more recently concluded that such a procedure constitutes second-prong plain error. People v.
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Hollahan, 2019 IL App (3d) 150556, ¶¶ 20, 29; People v. Henderson, 2017 IL App (3d) 150550,
¶¶ 46, 48. We turn to review the case law.
¶ 139 In Rouse, 2014 IL App (1st) 121462, technical difficulties prevented playing a
surveillance video in the jury room during a murder case. The reviewing court held that the trial
court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the jury, with proper limiting instructions, to view
the video in the courtroom rather than in the jury room, before the judge and the parties. Id. ¶ 78.
Further, the reviewing court noted that the trial court played only the portions of the video that
the jury had requested, but it also informed the jurors that they could view the recording as often
as they wished and cautioned them not to engage in deliberations or discussions in the
courtroom. Id. No one communicated with the jury while the video was played. Id. ¶ 79. The
reviewing court commented that the better approach would have been for the jurors to view the
video in the jury room, on a laptop (which also happened to contain other material), but with
instructions not to use the laptop for any purpose other than to view the video and to return it
once they were done. Id. ¶¶ 80-82.
¶ 140 In Johnson, 2015 IL App (3d) 130610, the reviewing court concluded that there was no
abuse of discretion and held that the defendant, who had been convicted of aggravated battery of
a peace officer, failed to establish prejudice when the trial court allowed the jury to review a
surveillance video in the courtroom before the judge, counsel, and the defendant. Id. ¶ 20. There
was no video equipment readily available for use in the jury room. Id. The reviewing court
determined that allowing the jurors to view the video in the courtroom demonstrated that the trial
court properly determined that the additional viewing was probative and not unduly prejudicial.
Id. ¶ 15. It held that there was no prejudice, where the viewing showed no intent to influence the
jury’s decision. Id. ¶ 20. The trial court admonished the parties that they would not be allowed
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to communicate with the jury during the courtroom viewing, and neither the prosecutor nor
defense counsel attempted to do so. Id. The reviewing court rejected the defendant’s argument
that the video evidence was favorable to him and that he would have been acquitted if the jury
had been allowed to view the video in the jury room. Id. ¶ 21. It noted that the video was
introduced by the State as evidence of the defendant’s guilt and that the video corroborated the
officers’ testimony. Thus, the court could not assume that viewing it again in the jury room
would have led to a different result. Id.
¶ 141 The dissenting justice would have held that the viewing of the video in the judge’s and
the parties’ presence exerted a chilling effect on the jury’s deliberations and its verdict. Id. ¶ 54
(McDade, P.J., dissenting). The presence of the judge, the defendant, and the attorneys, the
dissent argued, was intrusive, and the controlled environment prevented free discussion by the
jurors and did not allow them to control the video. Id. ¶¶ 49-56.
¶ 142 In McKinley, 2017 IL App (3d) 140752, an aggravated DUI case, the defendant argued
that during deliberations the trial court erred in allowing the jury to view a video of his traffic
stop and field sobriety tests in the courtroom, rather than in the jury room, in the presence of the
substitute judge, the prosecutor, the defendant, defense counsel, and the bailiff. (The reviewing
court did not note if there were technical issues that precluded playing the video in the jury
room.) Reviewing the issue for plain error, the court affirmed the defendant’s conviction,
holding that the viewing was not prejudicial to the defendant where the record did not reflect that
the presence of the defendant, the attorneys, and the substitute judge affected the jurors in any
way. Id. ¶ 14 (opinion of Carter, J.). No one present in the courtroom spoke to the jury while the
video was played, and the trial court instructed the jurors that, if they had any further questions,
they could provide them to the bailiff. Id. 23. In the absence of prejudice, there can be no abuse
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of discretion. Id. ¶ 22. Further, the reviewing court noted that the mode and manner in which a
trial court allows a jury to view evidence falls within the scope of the court’s inherent authority
to manage its courtroom. Id. However, the McKinley court cautioned that the trial court’s
procedure “could have the potential of becoming problematic and possibly lead to prejudicial
error in some cases.” Id. The court next rejected the defendant’s argument that it would have
benefitted him if the jurors had been allowed to pause and replay portions of the video. Id. ¶ 24.
The court noted that the video clearly showed, consistent with the officers’ testimony, that the
defendant did not properly complete the field sobriety tests and, thus, that viewing the video in
the jury room would not have resulted in a different verdict. Id. Finally, even if there was error,
there was no plain error, because the evidence was not closely balanced and the error was not a
structural error, because it did not affect the fairness of the trial or challenge the integrity of the
judicial process. Id. ¶¶ 25-27.
¶ 143 The specially concurring justice would have held that the trial court erred in allowing
anyone to be present with the jury when it viewed the video, but she agreed with the alternative
holding that any error was not plain error. Id. ¶¶ 32, 36 (O’Brien, J., specially concurring). The
dissenting justice would have concluded that, although allowing jurors to view evidence in
outsiders’ presence is not necessarily error in every case, the instant case warranted finding error.
Id. ¶ 38 (Holdridge, P.J., dissenting). He concluded that the trial court’s instructions were
erroneous in that they lacked specificity and were confusing. Id. ¶ 41. The trial court had
instructed the jurors that no one could make comments about the video, that they could make
whatever observations they chose to make, and that there would be no questioning of any of the
attorneys. Id. ¶ 40. The dissenting justice would have concluded that a reasonable juror would
not have known if they were allowed to discuss the video in the jury room. Id. ¶ 41. The
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instructions, coupled with the presence of the judge, the parties, and the bailiff, chilled the jury’s
deliberations and prejudice should have been presumed. Id. ¶¶ 41-42. Thus, a clear error
occurred. Id. ¶ 44.
¶ 144 In Henderson, 2017 IL App (3d) 150550, a murder case, the trial court twice allowed the
jurors to review video and audio evidence in the courtroom during their deliberations, but in the
presence of only an employee of the prosecutor’s office and the bailiff. The trial court had
instructed the jurors not to discuss the case while the prosecutor’s office employee was in the
room. The reviewing court, reviewing for plain error, held that the trial court erred in allowing
the jury to review the video and audio evidence while the prosecutor’s office employee was
present but neither the judge, defense counsel, nor the defendant was present to oversee the
interaction and observe any impropriety. Id. ¶ 46. The court also concluded that the error was a
structural error, because allowing the employee to be in the room when the jury reviewed the
evidence, without prior notice to the defendant, rendered the trial fundamentally unfair and
eroded the integrity of the judicial process. Id. ¶ 48.
¶ 145 In Lewis, 2019 IL App (4th) 150637-B, the reviewing court held that the trial court did
not err (and thus there was no structural error) in playing, during deliberations, a 911 recording
in the courtroom with the trial judge, the defendant, and the attorneys present. Id. ¶¶ 87, 95.
Technical issues had precluded playing the recording in the jury room. The reviewing court
rejected the Third District’s analysis in McKinley, and it adhered to its view in an earlier case
that allowing a jury to view a video in the courtroom during deliberations did not amount to a
structural error. Id. ¶ 95 (citing People v. Matthews, 2017 IL App (4th) 150911, ¶ 43); see also
Matthews, 2017 IL App (4th) 150911, ¶ 44 (citing McKinley, 2017 IL App (3d) 140752, ¶¶ 27,
36, and declining to conclude there was structural error; further noting that a declaration that
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there was structural error was “best left to our supreme court”)); Ryder, 2019 IL App (5th)
160027, ¶¶ 47-51 (replay, in presence of a bailiff and a clerk, of investigator’s interview with the
defendant held not an abuse of discretion; further holding that, even if allowing jury to view
evidence in the presence of neutral nonjurors or the parties were error, it does not constitute
second-prong plain error). 1
¶ 146 The Lewis court further noted that a trial court may exercise its discretion by bringing the
jury into the courtroom to replay a recording; it need not send the recording into the jury room.
Lewis, 2019 IL App (4th) 150637-B, ¶¶ 97, 99 (citing foreign cases noting this as the majority
rule). The court stated that this process avoids problems with operating the equipment. Id. ¶ 97.
It also noted that, when the jury returns to the courtroom and listens silently to the recording, it is
doing the same thing it did during the trial. Id. ¶ 98. However, if the trial court replays the
recording in the courtroom, “the court, parties, and counsel must be present to view or hear the
evidence, and the court should instruct the jury not to discuss the evidence while in the
courtroom.” (Emphasis added.) Id. ¶ 99. Also, in the jury’s presence, the trial court should
admonish everyone else to be silent and not to communicate with or try to influence the jury. Id.
After the viewing, it should instruct the jury to continue its deliberations, which may include the
replay. Id. Although the trial court in Lewis did not give these admonishments and instructions,
the reviewing court concluded that there was nothing in the record that showed prejudice or any
impropriety during the replay of the recording. Id. ¶ 100.
¶ 147 More recently, the Third District thoroughly explained the rationale for finding a
courtroom viewing presumptively prejudicial and a structural error. In Hollahan, 2019 IL App
1
The Fifth District’s statement that there is no structural error if the replay occurs in the
parties’ presence is dicta, because in that case the parties were not present during the replay.
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(3d) 150556, an aggravated DUI case, the jurors were shown a video in the courtroom, because
the court did not have the “ ‘arrangement’ ” necessary to allow the jurors to view it in the jury
room. Id. ¶ 10. The trial court also allowed the defendant, the attorneys, and two alternate
jurors to remain in the courtroom while the jury watched the video, and the trial court
admonished them that no conversations could occur while the jury watched the video. The trial
court instructed the jurors that no one would be speaking to them, that no one was to say a word,
and that, if the sound needed to be adjusted “or anything,” that would be done. Reviewing for
plain error, the Third District reversed and remanded, holding that the trial court erred by having
the jurors watch the video in the courtroom with the prosecutor, the defendant, and defense
counsel present and, further, that the error constituted a structural error. Id. ¶¶ 20, 29. The third
parties’ presence during deliberations “clearly inhibited” the jurors’ deliberations “and restrained
their freedom of expression and action.” Id. ¶ 21. Each of the nonjurors in the courtroom had “a
direct interest in the outcome of the litigation,” and their presence was “inherently intimidating”
to the jurors, who “almost certainly” would have been inhibited in their deliberations while the
video was played. Id. Further, the trial court’s statements to the jury removed any reasonable
doubt on the question, where the court conveyed that no one, including the jurors, could speak
while the video was played and that they could not control the playing of the video, pause it or
replay any parts that they wanted to view in detail, or discuss it. Id. ¶ 22. The trial court
“effectively precluded the jurors from engaging in any deliberations while the video was being
shown and likely limited their ability to focus sufficiently on the particular portions of the video
that gave them concern.” Id.
¶ 148 The reviewing court disagreed with case law that declined to find reversible error under
similar circumstances and that relied on the facts that the third parties in the courtroom were
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instructed not to communicate with the jurors (and did not attempt to do so) and that the jurors
returned to the jury room afterward for unfettered deliberations. Id. ¶ 23 (citing Lewis, Johnson,
and Rouse). The court noted that these facts did not mitigate the prejudicial impact on the
deliberations that occurred while the jurors viewed the video. Id. The jurors could not discuss
the video as they were viewing it or pause or replay any portions of it that they found important.
Id. Thus, in each case, the trial court’s procedure
“directly impeded the jury’s deliberations. The mere fact that the jury could have
discussed the video later in the jury room is immaterial. In each case, the jury was
prevented from controlling the video, from freely discussing it, and from debating any
issues relating to the video while they were watching it.” Id.
The Third District also disagreed with opposing case law because those cases did not
acknowledge that the mere presence of the third parties in the courtroom improperly intruded on
the privacy of the jury’s deliberations, with an inherently intimidating and inhibiting effect upon
them. Id. ¶ 24. This should be deemed, the court noted, presumptively prejudicial. Id. ¶ 24 n.3
(distinguishing Olano and noting that alternate jurors were disinterested parties, whereas the
parties and counsel had a direct interest in the outcome of the case and the trial judge was an
“authoritative, intimidating figure who was not a finder of fact and did not share the same
standing as the jurors”). Criticizing cases that ruled that a courtroom viewing during
deliberations is no different from the initial viewing during the trial, the court deemed the
contexts “critically different” and noted that, unlike public trials, deliberations must be private
and secret. Id. ¶ 25. The court also noted that jurors must be shielded from outside influences.
Id.
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¶ 149 The Hollahan court also noted that, although a trial court has discretion to determine
whether to grant a jury’s request to view evidence and the mode and manner in which the jury
views the evidence, the court abuses its discretion and commits reversible error if it allows the
jury to view that evidence in a manner that improperly inhibits the jury’s deliberations. Id. ¶ 26.
The court also addressed the technical aspects of viewing a recording, stating that it was
“difficult to believe” and “inexplicable” that technical issues would frequently preclude
arranging for a jury to review video or audio evidence in the jury room without risking its
destruction or other technical difficulties. Id. ¶ 27. However, even if a recording must be played
in the courtroom, the court determined, the jury should view it in private, not in the presence of
third parties. Id. ¶ 28. The jury’s mere presence in the courtroom does not transform the activity
into a court proceeding requiring the presence of the judge and the parties. Id. “The parties have
no right to be present for such deliberations, regardless of where they occur. *** Nor does it
entitle the defendant or any other third party to be present during those deliberations.” Id.
¶ 150 The Third District also held that the trial court’s procedure was structural error and, thus,
reversible under the plain-error doctrine. Id. ¶ 29. The court noted that the presence of the third
parties “was inherently intimidating and necessarily impeded or inhibited the jurors’ free
discussion and deliberation as the video was being shown to them.” Id. ¶ 29. This was
exacerbated by the trial court’s statement that they were not free to speak while it was played.
This rendered the trial “an unreliable means of determining guilt or innocence,” and the
reviewing court declined to follow case law holding or suggesting otherwise. Id.
¶ 151 Addressing the dissent’s comment that there is reversible error only if the defendant is
prejudiced by an intrusion into a jury’s deliberations, the majority disagreed with the dissent’s
assumption that prejudice could be established only by showing either that a third party engaged
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in prejudicial communication with a juror or that improper extraneous information reached the
jury. Id. ¶ 30. In the majority’s view, the mere presence of third parties during deliberations
“improperly intrudes upon the privacy of jury deliberations and has an inherently intimidating
and inhibiting effect upon such deliberations.” Id. Their presence “should be deemed
presumptively prejudicial [citation], regardless of whether they involve any express
communications or the transmission of ‘extraneous information.’ ” (Emphasis added.) Id. The
majority further noted that the prejudice created by the third parties’ presence during
deliberations was compounded in the case before it by the trial court precluding the jury from
controlling the video, commenting on it, or deliberating while watching it. Thus, its
deliberations were impeded on a matter of obvious concern to it and prejudiced the defendant.
Id.
¶ 152 The dissenting justice would have held that the defendant failed to show any error or thus
any plain error. Id. ¶ 37 (Carter, J., dissenting). He analogized to the law regarding
impeachment of a jury verdict, which states that “a rebuttable presumption of prejudice arises
when a defendant shows that a third party has communicated with a juror about a matter pending
before the jury or that the jury has been exposed to improper extraneous information that relates
directly to something at issue in the case that may have influenced the verdict.” Id. ¶¶ 39-40.
The dissenting justice noted that allegations that a juror “ ‘may have been exposed to extraneous
information of an unknown nature’ ” are insufficient to raise a presumption of prejudice. Id. ¶
40. In the case at hand, the dissenting justice noted, the defendant had not shown that any of the
third parties engaged in prejudicial communication with the jury about a matter pending before it
or that improper extraneous information reached the jury. Id. ¶ 41. “The mere possibility of an
improper communication,” which is all that the defendant had shown, was insufficient to
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establish prejudice. Id. The dissenting justice would not have found an abuse of discretion and,
further, he commented, “With all due respect, I believe that the majority’s position on this issue
is a radical departure from the traditional way reviewing courts have treated questions involving
the integrity of jury deliberations.” Id.
¶ 153 1. Whether Error Occurred
¶ 154 Regarding defendant’s first claim of error—that the trial court erred in restricting the jury
to one silent viewing of the video in open court—he argues that fundamental principles of our
justice system were violated. The presence of third parties, defendant asserts, significantly
disrupted the deliberations, and the silence imposed on the jurors exerted a chilling effect
because they could not discuss the video while it played. Further, the court’s exclusive control
of the video deprived the jurors of the opportunity to pause or replay key parts of it as they
deliberated. Thus, restricting the jury to one silent viewing in open court was error.
¶ 155 Defendant also argues that, unlike in McKinley and Johnson, where the courts determined
that the juries’ uninhibited review of the video evidence would not have been helpful to the
defendants (because the videos were consistent with the State’s witnesses’ testimony), the same
cannot be said here. According to defendant, the video in this case was of poor quality and
necessitated the jury’s close, unimpeded view. The video depicted many things happening, but
the view was obstructed by snow or ice and the video had no sound. Also, defendant notes that
the events depicted formed the basis of a number of discrete charges: an alleged drug transaction,
defendant’s driving away from the scene, the attempted murder of one officer, and the battery of
three other officers. In contrast to the videos at issue in the case law, he argues, the video here
required that the jury be able to control its playback and discuss the events while they unfolded
on the video. That the jury could discuss the video in the jury room afterward was no substitute
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for being able to deliberate openly and freely while watching the video. Further, defendant notes
that a laptop was available, which the jury requested to view the video, and that the court could
have instructed the jurors not to use it for any improper purposes, such as research. Instead, the
court chose a manner that deprived him of his right to a fair and impartial jury.
¶ 156 Defendant’s second claim of error is that restricting the jury to a single viewing of the
video was improper and prejudicial. He argues that the jury was entitled to replay the choppy
video, pause it, and discuss its contents as it saw fit. It was key evidence, in his view, and the
court’s refusal to allow the jury to view it more than once was unquestionably prejudicial,
because the court itself overturned part of the jury’s verdict after it repeatedly viewed both
versions of the video. Thus, the court itself found it useful to view both versions of the video
and to view them multiple times. Had the jury been able to view the video multiple times,
defendant contends, it might have acquitted him of attempted murder and other counts. The
court’s restriction was, thus, improper and prejudicial. Further, as defendant notes, though the
court noted that the time on the video was not accurate and it admonished the jury not to use it to
“count seconds,” the court itself found that the video showed defendant driving backward and
forward for, at most, a few seconds. 2
¶ 157 Defendant’s third and final claim of error is that the trial court erred in admonishing the
jury about how much weight to give to the video, specifically stating that the jury should not
“over-emphasize” that exhibit over other evidence. Defendant asserts that the court’s comments
violated the jury’s exclusive right to decide how much weight to give the evidence. See, e.g.,
2
In ruling on defendant’s posttrial motion, the court commented, “While the video time
counter may be inaccurate to the entire incident, from the backing up, to the leaving, to the
leaving down the berm is at most a very few seconds.”
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People v. Collins, 106 Ill. 2d 237, 261-62 (1985) (determinations of credibility and weight to
give to the testimony of witnesses are exclusively within the province of the trier of fact). The
jury was entitled, he notes, to give the video whatever weight or emphasis that it determined was
merited. When the trial court instead informed the jury that it should not emphasize the video
over other evidence, this effectively discouraged the jury’s reliance on it. Furthermore,
defendant notes, most of the other exhibits were sent to the jury room and the court could not
control how many times the jury reviewed those exhibits. The court’s admonishments were
particularly misguided, according to defendant, because video recordings can present an
objective view of a case. The jury alone, he urges, was entitled to decide the significance of the
video when reaching its verdict. The court’s comments here, given its great influence over the
jury, likely diminished the value of the video in the jurors’ minds.
¶ 158 Finally, defendant maintains that he suffered prejudice from the court’s restrictions on the
jury’s viewing of the video and from the court’s erroneous admonishments regarding the weight
to be given to that evidence. The video was critical evidence to both sides at trial, and it related
to each of the counts. It depicted part of the alleged narcotics transaction and showed
defendant’s departure from the scene, which was the basis of the charges of attempted first-
degree murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated fleeing. Also, unlike in McKinley and
Johnson, the video was of poor quality and the lens was partly obstructed. In order to reach
decisions on the various charges, the jury had to consider the actions of multiple people and
vehicles that were moving at the same time. Also, unlike in the case law, the video did not
unequivocally support the testimony of the State’s witnesses. He points to the fact that the video
does not show Stankowitz placing his hands on the hood of the Cadillac, as he had stated in his
testimony, or the Cadillac striking the blue minivan or Cabrales. Finally, defendant argues that
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the most telling indication of prejudice is that the court expressly relied on the video when
overturning part of the jury’s verdict, finding that defendant lacked the requisite specific intent to
kill Stankowitz. Had the jury been permitted to have the video in the jury room, defendant
asserts, it might have acquitted him on this count and other charges.
¶ 159 The State responds that the majority of the case law is not in defendant’s favor and that,
here, there was no attempt to influence the jury or any resulting prejudice. The State notes that
neither the State nor defendant attempted to communicate with the jurors. Further, the trial court
merely relayed the reviewing procedure to the jurors and noted that, if the video were sent to the
jury room, the jurors could view it “a thousand times” and there was no other evidence that could
be viewed that way. The court also properly advised that no single piece of evidence should be
overemphasized.
¶ 160 We conclude that there was error in the trial court’s limiting the jury’s access to the video
during deliberations. As noted, the circumstances here are unlike those in the cases we discussed
above. First, this case does not involve technical issues with replaying the video. Second (and
the critical distinction), none of the cases involved a video that undisputedly lacked clear images
and did not play in real time. Given the qualitative limitations of the video in this case, we
conclude that the court abused its discretion in limiting access to the video. Cf. Rouse, 2014 IL
App (1st) 121462, ¶¶ 78-82 (although the better approach would have been to allow the jury to
view the video in the jury room, no abuse of discretion where technical difficulties prohibited
doing so and the trial court admonished the jurors that they could view the video as many times
as they wished in the courtroom in the presence of third parties). We find support for our
conclusion in the court’s comments, in its ruling on defendant’s posttrial motion, that it viewed
both versions of the video several times before it determined that the evidence (including
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Stankowitz’s testimony, which it discounted in light of the video) was not sufficient to sustain
the attempted-murder verdicts. In addressing its analysis of the attempted-murder charges, the
court commented:
“The video itself is choppy when viewing this particular situation. I viewed it
several times, both videos, to get a very good—to try to see what information I could
glean from the admitted videos; and, again, the time lapse on the trial counter was not
accurate as to the time, so that was not helpful. And, again, the video is somewhat
choppy. I did see an officer there. I did see, I think it was, an officer, a person move a
step or so backwards from the car before the car went down the embankment.”
(Emphasis added.)
¶ 161 It is troubling that, in assessing the jury’s request for the video, the court ignored the
video’s poor quality and the limitations it presented. As confirmed by the court’s posttrial
comments and our own viewing of the video, it is difficult to ascertain the events depicted.
Thus, the only reasonable approach would have been to allow unrestricted access.
¶ 162 We also agree with defendant that some of the court’s admonishments to the jury were an
abuse of discretion and prejudicial. The court instructed the jury:
“Let me explain a little bit, just so you understand, and the reason I am doing it
this way is because in my experience, if you send the video back there, that it could be
viewed a thousand times. Now, there is no other evidence that you are going to view a
thousand times, just that evidence. That’s—there is no other evidence you are going to
view twice like you are the video in this matter or this particular video.
I don’t think it’s fair to the parties to overemphasize one piece of evidence over
any other piece of evidence. That’s how this thing gets played out.
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If you asked me if could [sic] bring some other witnesses and put them back on
the stand, see, we couldn’t do that. We can’t do—you can’t be given that more than
one—more than the time that they are allowed to you, so we will do it once. I understand
that it’s significant. I find it’s fair. We can do it one time.
It’s not fair for any lawyers to say anything or the defendant to say anything. We
are just going to view it in silence. When we are done, we will send you back to the jury
room to further your deliberations.” (Emphases added.)
¶ 163 We conclude that the trial court’s comments violated the jury’s exclusive right to decide
how much weight to give the video. “The right to a trial by jury is a fundamental right
guaranteed by our federal and state constitutions.” See, e.g., People v. Bracey, 213 Ill. 2d 265,
269 (2004). It was highly improper for the court to comment or opine on how much emphasis
the jury should place on the video and to note that it was “significant,” because the comments
interfered with the jury’s exclusive fact finding role. Furthermore, it was the jury’s prerogative
to look at the video as many times as it wished.
¶ 164 We agree with defendant that prejudice was shown here, where the jury convicted
defendant of attempted murder, convictions that the trial court, upon further multiple viewings of
both versions of the video, reversed for lack of sufficient evidence. The video was, thus, clearly
critical evidence. As defendant notes, although the video shows the Cadillac traveling in reverse
toward the blue minivan, it does not show it hitting Cabrales.
¶ 165 Finally, we wish to comment on Hollahan. That opinion reflects the Third District’s
evolution on the issue of courtroom video replays. Although we take no position on its holding,
we believe that Hollahan makes a compelling case that courtroom replays in the presence of
third parties are, in themselves, inherently prejudicial and inhibit the jury’s deliberations.
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Although the case before us presents additional circumstances that warrant finding error, we
acknowledge that the issues that Hollahan raises―such as the recurrence of technical issues, the
distinction between a live trial (where all parties are present) and jury deliberations (which are
limited only to jurors), and the jury’s lack of control over the replay (which, the Hollahan court
compellingly argues, inherently inhibits deliberations)―warrant further consideration of the
mode and manner in which a jury is given access to evidence in this state. We need not decide
whether all courtroom replays in the presence of third parties are inherently prejudicial, because,
again, this case presents unique and egregious circumstances.
¶ 166 2. Second-Prong Plain Error
¶ 167 Having determined that there was error in the manner in which the trial court played the
video for the jury during deliberations, we turn next to the second prong of plain-error review.
¶ 168 Defendant argues that the trial court’s limitations on the jury’s viewing of the video were
clear and obvious error and that, under the second prong of plain-error review, the error was so
grave that it undermined the fairness of his trial and challenged the integrity of the judicial
process. Defendant argues that the trial court intruded upon the privacy and secrecy of jury
deliberations by requiring the jury to view the video silently, in open court, and in the presence
of the judge, the parties, and any spectators. Hollahan, 2019 IL App (3d) 150556, ¶ 29; see also
McKinley, 2017 IL App (3d) 140752, ¶ 35 (O’Brien, J., specially concurring); id. ¶ 44
(Holdridge, P.J., dissenting); Johnson, 2015 IL App (3d) 130610, ¶ 49 (McDade, P.J.,
dissenting). Moreover, defendant contends, the court further erred by curtailing the jury’s
evaluation of the video by allowing only a single viewing and then admonishing the jury that
repeated viewings would be unnecessary—even though the court itself viewed the video multiple
times and relied on it in overturning part of the jury’s verdict. The error here, defendant urges,
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was far more egregious than any error in McKinley and Johnson, where the courts did not find
plain error. Here, the error invaded the secrecy of deliberations and the jury’s evaluation of key
evidence. Because the court’s ruling fundamentally deprived defendant of a fair trial, he argues,
the error warrant review under the second prong of plain error.
¶ 169 An error is generally considered structural when it renders a criminal trial fundamentally
unfair or unreliable in determining guilt or innocence. People v. Glasper, 234 Ill. 2d 173, 196
(2009). The United States Supreme Court has found structural error in a limited class of cases,
including those involving complete denial of counsel, denial of self-representation at trial, trial
before a biased judge, denial of a public trial, racial discrimination in the selection of a grand
jury, and a defective reasonable-doubt instruction. People v. Thompson, 238 Ill. 2d 598, 609
(2010) (citing Washington v. Recuenco, 548 U.S. 212, 218 n.2 (2006)). Our supreme court has
noted that plain error is not restricted to the types of structural errors recognized by the Supreme
Court. It has held that the failure to apply the one-act, one-crime rule and the failure to exercise
discretion in denying a request for a continuance constituted second-prong plain error. See
People v. Clark, 2016 IL 118845, ¶ 25 (citing cases).
¶ 170 Having concluded that error occurred here, we further hold that there was second-prong
plain error. The failure to allow for proper jury deliberations, and the resulting prejudice, was
clearly serious, undermined the fairness of defendant’s trial, and challenged the integrity of the
judicial process. Hollahan, 2019 IL App (3d) 150556, ¶ 29; Henderson, 2017 IL App (3d)
150550, ¶ 48. In any event, in Olano, the Supreme Court noted that “[t]here may be cases where
an intrusion should be presumed prejudicial.” Olano, 507 U.S. at 739. This case presents such a
scenario. The video’s poor quality required that the jury be given at least some control over the
replay, and the trial court’s admonishment not to overemphasize the video invaded the jury’s
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exclusive factfinding role (see Bracey, 213 Ill. 2d at 269). Under the unique facts of this case,
the mode and manner in which the video was replayed, coupled with the trial court’s comments
touching upon the weight to be given the evidence, intruded upon the jury’s review and
evaluation of key evidence and the error was so egregious as to constitute second-prong plain
error.
¶ 171 B. Police Uniform
¶ 172 Next, defendant argues that his conviction of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a
peace officer should be reversed because the State failed to prove the essential element that the
officer was wearing a “police uniform.” 625 ILCS 5/11-204(a) (West 2012). For the following
reasons, we reject his argument.
¶ 173 In a challenge to the sufficiency of evidence, a reviewing court will not substitute its
judgment for that of the trier of fact and will not reverse a conviction if, viewing the evidence in
the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the
defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Ortiz, 196 Ill. 2d 236, 259 (2001).
“Reasonable doubt exists as a matter of law when the State fails to prove an essential element of
the offense.” People v. Fountain, 2011 IL App (1st) 083459-B, ¶ 13.
¶ 174 Further, in resolving an issue of statutory construction, the court’s objective involves
ascertaining and carrying out the “true intent and meaning of the legislature evidenced by the
language used.” Langendorf v. City of Urbana, 197 Ill. 2d 100, 109 (2001). Indeed, our inquiry
“always begin[s] with the language of the statute, which is the surest and most reliable indicator
of legislative intent.” People v. Pullen, 192 Ill. 2d 36, 42 (2000). We give undefined statutory
words and phrases their natural and ordinary meanings. Id. And we enforce the clear and
unambiguous language as written, without resort to other aids of construction, e.g., legislative
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history. People v. Fitzpatrick, 158 Ill. 2d 360, 364-65 (1994). The construction of a statute is a
question of law, which we review de novo. People v. Starks, 2019 IL App (2d) 160871, ¶ 26.
¶ 175 Here, the State needed to prove that defendant was a “driver or operator of a motor
vehicle who, having been given a visual or audible signal by a peace officer directing such driver
or operator to bring his vehicle to a stop, wilfully *** fle[d] or attempt[ed] to elude the officer”
(625 ILCS 5/11-204(a) (West 2012)) “and such flight or attempt to elude *** cause[d] bodily
injury to any individual” (id. § 11-204.1(a)(2)). Further, “[t]he signal given by the peace officer
may be by hand, voice, siren, [or] red or blue light. Provided, the officer giving such signal shall
be in police uniform[.]” (Emphasis added.) Id. § 11-204(a).
¶ 176 The statute has been strictly construed. See People v. Maxey, 2018 IL App (1st) 130698-
B, ¶¶ 120-21 (reversing conviction where evidence did not show what the officers were wearing
at the time of the stop); People v. Williams, 2015 IL App (1st) 133582, ¶¶ 14, 16 (because statute
requires pursuing officer be in police uniform, reversing conviction where officer testified that he
wore “ ‘ civilian dress’ ” and noting operative concern “is not whether [the defendant] knew the
police were following him; but rather, whether the requirements of the statute have been met”);
People v. Murdock, 321 Ill. App. 3d 175, 176 (2001) (reversing conviction where no evidence
was presented concerning the officer’s clothing and rejecting argument that the defendant should
have known pursuer was a police officer because lights and siren were activated).
¶ 177 Here, defendant contends that none of the officers who first approached him in the
McDonald’s parking lot wore police uniforms. Carrillo, Gonzales, Selvik, and Lizotte were
acting undercover and, thus, wore plainclothes. Lizotte testified that he wore a shirt, tie, and
jacket and a badge on his belt. Defendant further notes that the four officers on the primary
arrest team—Schuldt, Stankowitz, Murphy, and Bognetti—were dressed similarly in jeans and
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police vests. The three officers who arrived in the blue minivan—Cabrales, Murray, and
Ostrem—also did not wear police uniforms, defendant argues. Cabrales stated that he wore a
black shirt, a life vest―both of which had the word “police” written on them―jeans, a beanie
cap, a badge, and a police lanyard with his ID.
¶ 178 The vests with police markings, defendant believes, did not transform the officers’ attire
into uniforms. Wearing a police vest over civilian clothing, in his view, did not demonstrate the
distinctive or characteristic design of police uniforms. Further, even if defendant knew that the
people ordering him to stop were officers, his knowledge was irrelevant because the statute’s
plain language mandates that the officer giving the signal to stop be in a police uniform. He also
notes that in closing argument the State did not identify any evidence that the officers wore
police uniforms. Thus, defendant argues, his conviction should be reversed.
¶ 179 In response, the State argues that the term “police uniform” logically includes vests and
other such clothing that are clearly labeled with the word “police,” as well as badges, police
radios, police stars, and police-issued gun belts, which civilians would not be wearing. It also
contends that not all officers wear patrol-type uniforms while working.
¶ 180 Defendant replies that tactical vests and assorted clothing with “police” written on them
do not amount to the type of distinctive or characteristic clothing worn by police officers on a
day-to-day basis. Instead, the officers’ tactical clothing and accessories were worn for the
purpose of an undercover reverse-buy drug operation. Also, the statute, defendant notes, is
distinct from others that merely require that the defendant knew that the person was a police
officer. See People v. Ruiz, 312 Ill. App. 3d 49, 57-58 (2000) (affirming conviction of attempted
murder of a police officer where the defendant “knew or should have known” that people
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pursuing him after a bank robbery were police officers, as evidenced, in part, by his statement
following the pursuit that “these cops [are] trying to kill me”).
¶ 181 We conclude that a vest with police markings can, under certain circumstances, constitute
a police uniform under the statute and that the totality of the evidence here was sufficient to
establish this element of the offense. We reject defendant’s argument that only a traditional
police uniform satisfies the statutory requirement in all circumstances. The statute includes this
requirement because it ensures that the defendant is fleeing or eluding an actual police officer.
Cf. People v. Hansen, 2019 IL App (3d) 170302, ¶ 14 (“purpose of requiring use of a vehicle’s
‘illuminated oscillating, rotating or flashing red or blue lights’ with a siren is so that they ‘would
indicate the vehicle to be an official police vehicle’ ”).
¶ 182 Given our reading of the statute and the factual circumstances here, we conclude that the
evidence was sufficient to sustain defendant’s conviction. As relevant here, Stankowitz was the
only nonundercover officer in defendant’s range of vision (he testified that he made eye contact
with defendant) who gave defendant a signal to stop his car. He stated that he wore a sweater, a
black tactical vest with police markings on the front and back, and a badge around his neck. He
also had a firearm on his right hip. Thus, with the evidence viewed in the light most favorable to
the State, defendant saw an individual wearing a vest with police markings, wearing a badge
around his neck, announcing “police” to defendant, and ordering him to stop. The foregoing
occurred in daylight, in a public place, and with civilians present. The only reasonable inference,
in our view, is that Stankowitz was a peace officer in a police uniform.
¶ 183 In summary, a vest with police markings can, under certain circumstances, constitute a
police uniform under the statute and, here, there was sufficient evidence on this element to
sustain defendant’s conviction.
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¶ 184 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 185 For the reasons stated, the judgment of the circuit court of Kane County is reversed and
the cause is remanded for a new trial.
¶ 186 Reversed and remanded.
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People v. Cavitt
Court: Appellate Court of Illinois
Date filed: 2019-09-30
Citations: 2019 IL App (2d) 170149
Copy CitationsCombined Opinion