Case 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?
Read DetailsCase 11.1 Janet is a successful Colorado entrepreneur and ha…
Case 11.1 Janet is a successful Colorado entrepreneur and has recently decided to open a recreational marijuana sales business in Denver, “High and Mighty.” The state and county require operators of such businesses to acquire a license, hold a public meeting coordinated with the local and state license board, and other special procedures for this new and highly regulated enterprise. One holiday weekend, Detective Jones stops in and informs Janet that he is conducting a surprise inspection of the business to determine if Janet is complying with state record-keeping laws and other rules ensuring that minors are not being permitted to purchase the recreational marijuana. Janet has never been the subject of such a search and is concerned the detective’s presence will scare away customers. There are 20 customers in line, waiting to purchase recreational marijuana. Detective Jones enters the store over Janet’s objection and despite her request that he produce a search warrant. He enters her office and reviews her paperwork relevant to state record-keeping laws. He notes several irregularities and documents them. When Detective Jones returns to the sales area, he finds that Janet and her staff have continued to serve customers while he was in the office. Detective Jones checks the ID of several people who have made purchases and finds that two of them are under age under state law to purchase marijuana. While Detective Jones is checking IDs, one of the patrons (Bobby) waiting to buy marijuana says, “Man, I can’t believe this guy is giving us such a hard time. What a bummer!” Detective Jones directs this man to empty his pockets on a nearby table and finds he has cocaine. Detective Jones arrests Bobby for possession of cocaine, cites Janet for violating state law for poor record-keeping and charges her with providing marijuana to underage patrons.Can Detective Jones enter and search “High and Mighty” to ensure and enforce compliance with marijuana recreational sales regulations without a search warrant?
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