DevonLee

EliCameron
EnglishIII
May8,2014
Arizonav.Hicks

OnApril18,1984,abulletwasfiredthroughafloorofrespondentsapartmentstrikingand
injuringamanintheapartmentbelow.Policeofficersarrivedandenteredrespondentsapartmentto
searchfortheshooter,forothervictims,andforweapons.Theyfoundandseizedthreeitems,including
asawedoffrifle,andinthecourseoftheirsearchalsodiscoveredastockingcapmask.
Oneofthepolicemen,OfficerNelson,noticedtwosetsofexpensivestereocomponents,which
seemedoutofplaceinthesqualidandotherwiseillappointedfourroomapartment.Suspectingthat
theywerestolen,hereadandrecordedtheirserialnumbersmovingsomeofthecomponents,
includingaBangandOlufsenturntable,inordertodosowhichhethenreportedbyphonetohis
headquarters.Onbeingadvisedthattheturntablehadbeentakeninanarmedrobbery,heseizedit
immediately.Itwaswaterdeterminedthatsomeoftheotherserialnumbersmatchedthoseonother
stereoequipmenttakeninthesamearmedrobbery,andawarrantwasobtainedandexecutedtoseize
thatequipmentaswell.Respondentwassubsequentlyindictedfortherobbery.Nowthatweknow
whatissueoccurred,wemustanswerthequestion:werethepoliceofficerswithintheirrightstoconvict
Hicksofrobberyofthestereosystem?Inotherwords,werethepoliceallowedtomovetheD.J.
equipment.
Accordingtothecase,Chimelv.California,aruleisestablishedthatstatesFortheroutine
searchofroomsotherthanthatinwhichanarrestoccurs,orforsearchingdeskdrawersorotherclosed
orconcealedareasinthatroomitself,absentwillrecognizedexceptions,asearchwarrantisrequired.
Theruleclearlystatesthatapoliceofficermayconductasearchwherethearrestoccurred,onlyifthey
haveasearchwarrantestablishingtheparticularityofthesearch.
Whentheofficerswentupstairstorespondentsapartmentandentered,therewasprobable
cause,makingthatactionwithintheofficersrights.Butbecausetherewasnoarrestmadepriortothis
search,OfficerNelson,wasnotwithinhisrightstomoveanyoftheD.J.equipmentorconductasearch.
SinceOfficerNelsonwasnotsupposedtohavemadethesearchinthefirstplace,heneverwas
supposedtofindanythingintheroom,thereforeneversupposedtohavefoundanythingtoconvict
Hicksforrobberyofthestereosystem.
OfficerNelsonsearchedrespondentsapartmentwithoutasearchwarrant,makinghisactions
notwithinhisrights,andanythingthatOfficerNelsonfoundinvalidintheconvictionofHicks.Thiscase
raisesthequestionofwhatarethecircumstancesneededtosearcharoomwithoutmakingeverything
foundinvalidinaconviction.Inorderforanythingfoundtonotbeinvalid,itmusthavebeenapproved
bytheruleestablishedintheChimelv.Californiacaseorasearchwarrant.