A Defendants Story

Miss Mapps home is in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a single-mother who lives alone with her young daughter. On May 23, 2010 police arrive at her door without any warrant and attempted to gain entry to Miss Mapps home. The police were attempting to interrogate Miss Mapp in regards to a person of interest in a terrorist bombing. Miss Mapp did not have any information regarding terrorist. Miss Mapp being scared and confused as to why the officers were knocking at her door contacted her attorney to see what she should do. Under advice from counsel Miss Mapp refused to admit them without a search warrant. The police left and Miss Mapp went upstairs. Several hours later Miss Mapp was startled because of a loud ruckus permeating from downstairs, and she goes to see about it. Miss Mapp finds the police searching her home. Miss Mapp calmly requested to see the search warrant. A policeman held up a piece of paper indicating that it was the search warrant. Miss Mapp attempted to exam the paper, but officers prohibited her view of the paper. The paper that the officers claimed to be a warrant was blank. No warrants had been issued for Miss Mapp or for her residence. Miss Mapp took the paper from the police officer as proof of their warrantless search of her home. Miss Mapp placed the blank piece of paper down her top assuming that the police would show a modicum of professionalism and leave the paper be. Police attempting to hide their illegal search, became overzealous and ran roughshod over Miss Mapp. Miss Mapp fought back attempting to halt the policemens physical assault of her. Miss Mapp was bound and forcibly taken upstairs to her bedroom. Miss Mapps bedroom was desecrated. The police officers search her dresser, a Chester draw, personal papers, drawers, closets and suitcases. During the policemen warrantless search certain material the policeman considered to be lewd and lascivious was found. Miss Mapp was not aware that the material in question was a violation of any Ohio Statute. The police arrested Miss Mapp for the possession & control of certain lewd and lascivious books, pictures, and photographs. The police never found any person connected in terrorist activity inside Miss Mapps home. If the officers had obtained a warrant prior to the search of Miss Mapps home, they would not have had probably cause to search dressers,

Chester draws, personal papers, drawer, and suitcase for a terrorist. The items that the police officers determined to be lewd and lascivious were not in plain sight. The warrantless search was a violation of Miss Mapps 4th Amendment rights, therefore any evidence obtain through this search would be Fruit from a Poisonous Tree and should be inadmissible. Miss Mapps conviction should be overturned.

Respectively Submitted,

Leeza R. Crosby-Edwards
Leeza R. Crosby-Edwards Paralegal Student