Case 4.1 While shoplifting five laptops from an electronics…
Case 4.1 While shoplifting five laptops from an electronics store in the mall, the actors Jack and Diane are confronted by the store manager. Jack brutally assaults the store manager as Diane looks on. They leave the manager unconscious on the floor of the store. Passing shoppers alert mall security, who chase the two into the mall parking lot. Police are notified and arrive as Jack and Diane flee the scene in a small red pickup truck and stop the vehicle. Mall security provides physical and clothing description of the two suspects and the pickup truck. Police pursue the pickup through several residential streets. During the pursuit several items appearing to laptops are thrown from the passenger window of the truck. The locations are reported via radio for other units to collect the evidence. The fleeing pickup blows several red lights causing minor accidents. The pursuing police units temporarily lose sight of the pickup. Within minutes, however, the pickup is found in an alleyway, crashed into a retaining wall behind 427 Oak Street. The pickup is unoccupied with the keys still in the ignition. The license plates on the vehicle are stolen. Found in the pickup is one laptop, a blood covered sleeve of a shirt. Also found in the pickup is old mail addressed to a Jack Bowers of 123 Elm Street which is approximately 1 mile away. While patrol searches for the suspects, detectives respond to the Bower residence and find no one home. They speak with the building manager who reports seeing Mr. Bower and his girlfriend drive off earlier in the day. The manager reports that Mr. Bower owns a small red pickup. The detectives notice surveillance cameras on the apartment complex and ask the manager to view and copy the video from that day. Caught on video are Brower and girlfriend apparently changing the license plates on the pickup and leaving in the truck 30 minutes prior to the incident at the mall. The vehicle identification number on the pickup is registered to Jack Bower with different license plates. Jack and Diane are located by patrol three blocks from the pickup hiding behind two dumpsters. Jack’s shirt is torn and bloody. He has bruises and blood on his hands. Both Jack and Diane claim that they were carjacked two hours prior and had been walking toward the police station. The two are arrested. A search incident to arrest under covers 3 packets of heroin, a hypodermic needle and cell phone in Jack’s pockets and a large, aluminum-lined handbag (commonly known as a boosting bag) with several boxed cell phones and two bags of heroin in Diane’s possession. Detectives respond to the hospital where the store manager is being treated for serious injuries to his head and body. It is reported that the manager has a skull fracture, damage to his eye socket, and a broken jaw. The injuries are photographed and documented. Detectives also retrieve surveillance video from the store and from the mall for evidence. The two suspects are charged with robbery, eluding, destruction of evidence, possession of controlled dangerous substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of burglary tools.The heroin found subsequent to the arrest of Jack and Diane would be considered _____ evidence.
Read DetailsCase 11.3 Jack has been released from confinement early and…
Case 11.3 Jack has been released from confinement early and placed on probation. He found a job and rented an apartment in his hometown. One day, he responded to a knock on the door and sees his probation officer, Stephanie Stone. She tells him that she has decided to conduct a surprise inspection of his home. Jack insists that he has been a very good citizen and is no longer involved in any criminal behavior. Stephanie has no evidence that this is not true, but insists on conducting a complete search of the home anyway. Stephanie finds nothing out of the ordinary, but asks if Jack will follow her to the office for a drug test, just in case. Jack says, “Sure, I have nothing to hide.” Unfortunately for Jack, the drug test is positive for an illegal substance and his parole is revoked.Was Jack’s drug test obtained lawfully?
Read DetailsCase 12.1 Police respond to an armed robbery call at a loca…
Case 12.1 Police respond to an armed robbery call at a local deli. The store owner shows the video of the suspect with a gun, provides the direction the suspect fled and tells police that $375.00 in cash was taken. The police spot the suspect fleeing on foot two blocks away and give chase. The suspect runs through a city park and is stopped near a playground. Officer Smith conducts a frisk of the suspect for the handgun but finds no gun. Officer Smith immediately asks the suspect “where’s the gun?” The suspect hesitates and Officer Smith says “Look, there a lot of little kids here; we don’t want one of them to find the gun and have a tragedy.” The suspect points to a garbage can near the playground and states “it’s in the can.” Another officer retrieves the gun. The suspect is then taken into custody, searched and brought to the police station where he is placed, handcuffed, in an interrogation room. He is provided a written copy of his Miranda warning and the warning is read to him. The search of the suspect produces $ 450.00 in cash and a cell phone. The suspect is questioned regarding the gun and the robbery. The detectives present the now-unloaded gun in an evidence bag, which the suspect identifies as the one he threw in the can. The suspect admits the gun is his, claiming he found it a week prior in an alley by his apartment. He remains silent in response to questions regarding the robbery and states “I am not talking about anything else that happened today.” The suspect is then directed to stand in a lineup with five other persons. The store owner positively identifies the suspect. The suspect is charged with the armed robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. In the above scenario, did Officer Smith’s pre-Miranda questioning of the suspect regarding the location of the location of the gun violate the Fifth Amendment?
Read DetailsCase 8.1 Police respond to the scene of fight inside a local…
Case 8.1 Police respond to the scene of fight inside a local bar. The scene is chaotic with ambulance personnel attending to an unconscious male. In the course of rendering aid to the victim, the victim and the victim’s clothing were removed from the scene. The victim’s clothing and personal effects are collected by an emergency room nurse at the hospital. Police interview witnesses who report that the victim, Jeff Anderson, got into an argument with another bar patron/accused for having several rounds of drinks put on the patrons tab. Witnesses also report that the patron/accused struck Mr. Anderson with a close fist and two then exchanged several punches with Mr. Anderson giving the patron/accused a bloody nose. The patron/accused then struck Mr. Anderson with a chair knocking him unconscious and fled the bar. Police interview the bar owner who reports that accused became enraged after getting the $500.00 credit card receipt for his drink tab. The bar owner stated the “guy flipped out, nearly jumping over the bar when he saw the amount of his tab”. The bar owner reported that he pointed Mr. Anderson and said “go talk to your friend – he ordered three rounds for the bar on your tab.” Police ask for and receive copies of the credit card receipts for the accused, Dick Grayson. The investigating officer responds to the hospital and takes a statement from the victim who reports not knowing why he was attacked. While at the hospital the investigating officer asks if anyone had sought treatment for facial injuries from a fight. It is determined that Mr. Grayson had been seen and had reported to the registration nurse that his injuries were from “some guy sucker punching” him in a bar and had also stated “you should see the other guy.” Mr. Grayson is taken into custody and is being escorted out of the emergency room when he stops in front of room where the victim lying in a hospital bed being attended to by medical personnel he blurts out “I’m in so much trouble” and asks the officers “is he going to make it.” Mr. Grayson charged with aggravated assault.Would the emergency room nurse’s testimony regarding Mr. Grayson’s statement to her about he got injured in a bar fight fall under any hearsay exceptions?
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