Case Studies
Chapter 05: Exceptions to the Warrant Requirement: Automobile Searches
Police officers received a tip from a regular informant that a motor home parked outside of a convenience store was being used by a person to sell drugs. The man was known by the name of “CoCo.” The informant gave officers the location of the store and the motor home. Officers parked across the street and began to observe the motor home. After watching the motor home for 20 minutes, the officers observed two men enter the motor home. The door was shut and the shades were then closed on all of the windows. Approximately 5 minutes later one of the men left. After leaving, the officers stopped the man and questioned him. He confirmed that he had just purchased marijuana inside the motor home. The man was subsequently arrested. The officers then returned to observe the motor home. After about 30 minutes another man entered the motor home. About 5 minutes later, the same man exited the motor home. Officers followed the man. After stopping the second man, officer questioned him and discovered that he had also purchased marijuana inside of the motor home. The man was also arrested. At that point, the officers returned to the motor home and knocked on the door of the motor home. The same man the officers had seen enter the home earlier came to the door. The officers confirmed that the man went by the name of “CoCo.” After confirming the man’s identity, the officers searched the motor home and found a container of marijuana. The man was subsequently arrested the man for possession of a controlled substance and distribution.