FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, RI C KM A N and BROWN, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

October 27, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A0 88 8 . EDW A RDS v . THE STATE.

B R O W N , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a co m

b i n ed s u p p res s i o n h ea r ing a nd be nc h tr ia l, K a y r a Ed ward s was

fo u n d g u il t y o f o b s t ru ct i o n o f an o ffi cer. Ed ward s ap p eal s h er co n v i ct i o n an d t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s d en i al o f her m ot io n t o s u p p res s ev i d en ce o b tai n ed as a res u lt o f t h e

warran t l es s s earch of h er ho m e. Fo r t h e reas o ns s et fo rt h bel o w, w e rev ers e t he d en i al

o f Ed w ard s ’ m o t i o n t o s u p p res s as wel l as h er co n vi ct io n

, an d rem an d t h e cas e t o t h e

t ri al co u rt

.

W h en co nd u ct i ng an ap p el l at e rev i ew o f a ru l i n g o n a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

ev i d en ce, we fo ll o w t h ree fu nd am en t al p ri n ci p l es :

Fi rs t

, wh en a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s i s h eard b y t h e t ri al ju dg e, t h at j u d ge

s i ts as t h e t ri er o f fact s

. Th e t ri al ju d g e h ears t h e ev i d en ce, an d h i s

fi nd in g s b as ed u p o n co n fl i ct i n g ev i d en ce are an al og o u s t o t h e verd i ct o fa ju ry an d sh o u l d n o t b e d i s t urb ed by a rev i ewi n g co u rt i f t h ere i s a n y

ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt t hem

. Seco n d

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i on wi t h reg ard

t o q u es t i o n s o f fact a n d cred i b i l it y m us t b e accep t ed u n l es s cl earl y

erro n eo us

. Th i rd

, t h e rev i ewi n g co u rt m u s t co n s t ru e t h e ev id en ce m o s t

fav o rab ly t o t h e u p h o l d i ng o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s an d ju d g m en t

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Fr a n ci s v. S ta t e

, 3 4 5 Ga. A p p

. 5 86

, 5 8 8 (1 ) (8 1 4

SE2 d 5 7 1 ) (2 01 8 ). Ho wev er, to t h e ex t en t th at “ t h e ev i d en ce at a s u p p res si o n h eari n g

i s u n co nt ro v ert ed an d t h e cred i b i l i t y o f wi t n es s es i s n o t i n q u es t i o n

, w e co n d u ct a d e

n o v o rev i ew o f t h e t r i a l c o u rt ’ s ap p l i cat io n o f t h e l aw t o t h e u n di s p u t ed fact s .”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) S t ep h en s v. S t a t e

, 3 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 68 6

, 68 9 (2 ) (8 1 6

SE2 d 7 48 ) (2 0 1 8 ). Si g n ifi can t l y

, “ wh ere co n t ro ll in g fact s are n ot i n d i s pu t e, s u ch as

t h o s e fact s di scern i b l e fro m a v i d eo t ap e, o u r rev i ew i s d e n o v o

. ” (Ci tat i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n om it t ed .) Ben t on v. S t a t e

, 3 0 2 Ga. 5 7 0

, 5 7 2 (2 ) (8 0 7 SE2 d 4 5 0 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

Fi n al l y

, “ [w] h en a d efen d an t m o v es t o su p p res s ev i d en ce b as ed o n an i l l eg al s earch

,

t h e St at e b ears t h e b u rd e n o f p ro v i n g t h at t h e s earch was l awfu l .” (Ci tat i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) La n d er s v. S ta t e

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9

, 7 0 (8 4 2 SE2 d 5 2 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

Th e ev i d en ce s h ows t h at o ffi cers fro m t h e Ro m e Po l i ce Dep art m en t (“ RPD”)

res p o n d ed t o a rep ort t hat D ev i o n Trem ai n e N e a l h a d p u l l ed a g u n o n hi s ch i l d ’ s

m o th er. Neal was n ot at t h e s cen e wh en t h e o ffi cers arri v ed

, b u t t h e v i ct i m t o l d p o l i ce

2t h at Neal l i k el y wo u l d b e at hi s ap art m en t o r at Ed w a r d s ’ h o u s e. Th e o ffi cers al s o

l earn ed t h at Neal l eft t h e s cen e i n a b l u e, fo ur-d o o r car.

Th e offi cers fi rs t at t em

p t ed t o l o cat e N eal at h i s ap art m en t

, b ut t h e ap art m en t

w as d ark

, an d t h e d es cri b ed v eh i cl e was n o t t h ere. Th e offi cers p ro ceed ed t o

Ed ward s ’ h o u s e, wh ere an o ffi cer fro m t he Fl o y d Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Dep art m en t

(“ FCSD”) m et t h em

. 1 T h e FCSD o ffi cer i n fo rm ed th e o t h er o ffi cers t hat Neal was a

co n vi ct ed fel on an d th at t h e v eh i cl e Neal was rep o rt ed l y d r i v i n g was reg i s t ered to

Ed ward s . Th e v eh i cl e was n o t at Ed ward s ’ h o u s e wh en t h e o ffi cers arri v ed

.

Vi d eo fo o t ag e fro m t wo o f t h e o ffi cers ’ bo d y cam eras was pl ay ed fo r t h e t ri al

co u rt an d s h o ws t h e fo l l o w i n g. Th e o ffi cers ap p ro ach Ed ward s’ h o m e an d k n o ck o n

t h e d o o r. Ed ward s an s wers t h e d o o r, an d o ne o f t h e o ffi cers as k s h er t o s t ep o u t s i d e

o f t h e h o u s e. Ed ward s refu s es an d as k s wh at i s g o in g o n an d wh y t h e offi cers are

t h ere. On e o ffi cer ex p l ai n s t h at t h ey “ h av e a s it u at i o n wi t h Dev i on Neal ” an d t h at h e

i s s u p p o s ed l y dri v i n g Ed ward s ’ v eh i cl e. Ed w ard s d en ies t h is

, s t at i n g h er m o t h er h as

h er v eh i cl e. Th e o ffi cer t h en m en t i o n s t h e s m el l o f m ari ju an a an d t el l s Ed ward s t h ey

h av e t wo ch o i ces : s h e can g i v e t h em co n s en t t o s earch h er h o u se o r t h ey can o b t ai n

1 At t h e t i m e, Ed w ard s was em p l o y ed b y t h e FCSD, an d t h e R P D o ffi cers

co n tact ed t h em

fo r as s i s t an ce.

3a s earch w a r r a n t

. Ed ward s rep l i es t h at t h ey can g et a warran t. T h e offi cer t el l s

Ed ward s t o s t ep o u t s i d e o f t he h o u s e an d s i t o u ts i de an d t h at t h e o ffi cers h av e t h e

au t h o ri t y t o “ cl ear t he ho u s e.” Ed ward s s tep s o ut s i d e as in s t ru ct ed

. Th e o ffi cer as k s

i f an y o ne el s e i s i n th e h o m e, E d w a r d s r e sp o nd s t h at h er fri en d i s, an d a s eco n d

fem al e s t ep s o ut si d e. Th e o ffi cers t h en en ter t h e h o u s e as Ed w ard s as k s wh y t h ey are

g o i n g i n s i d e. Aft er en teri n g

, th e o ffi cers fi n d Neal

. 2 It i s u n d i s pu t ed t h at t he o ffi cers

n ev er at tem

p t ed to o b t ai n a s earch warran t o f Ed ward s ’ ho u s e o r an arres t warran t fo r

Neal

.

Du ri n g t h e co m

b i n ed s u pp res s i o n h eari n g an d b en ch t ri al

, t h e o ffi cers t es t i fi ed

t h at t h ey sm el l ed m ari

ju an a as t h ey ap p ro ach ed E d w ard s ’ h ou s e. On e o ffi cer

co n fi rm ed th at t h e offi cers were co ncern ed ab o u t p eo p l e g et ti n g ri d o f d ru g s, b u t t h at

t h e o ffi cers d i d n o t en t er t he h o m e “ ju s t b ecau s e [t h ey ] s m el l ed m ari ju an a.” Th e

o ffi cers al s o t es t i fi ed t h at t h ey en t ered t h e h om e t o d o “ a s a f e t y s weep fo r o t h er

p ers o n s wi t h i n t h e res i den ce,” an d t h at t h ey were co n cern ed Neal w as arm ed

. On e o f

t h e o ffi cers ack n o wl ed g ed th at t h ey were n o t i n “ h o t p u rs u i t ” o f Neal

.

2 On e o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at h e s aw wh at ap p eared t o b e m ari j u an a i n t h e t o i l et

an d as su m ed t hat Neal was at t em p t i n g t o fl u s h i t . Th i s i s n o t v i s i b l e i n t he v i d eo

.

4Ed ward s was ch arg ed wi t h h i n d eri n g ap p reh en s io n o f a cri m i n al (OCGA § 1 6

-

1 0 -5 0) an d o b s tru ct i on o f an o ffi cer ( O C G A § 16 -1 0 -2 4 ). Sh e fi l ed a m o t i o n to

s u p p res s t h e d i s co v ery of Neal i n h er h o m e as t h e fru i t o f an i l l eg al s earch o f h er

h o m e, an d t h e t ri al co u rt hel d a co m b i n ed s u p pres s i o n h eari n g an d b en ch t ri al aft er

Ed ward s wai ved h er ri gh t t o a ju ry t ri al . At t h e co n cl u s i o n o f t h e ev i d en ce, t h e t ri al

co u rt m ad e o ral fi n d i n gs o f fact o n t h e reco rd

. 3

Th e t ri al co u rt reject ed t h e St at e’ s arg u m en t t h at t he o ffi cers were ju s t i fi ed in

en t eri n g Ed ward s ’ h o m e t o c o n d u c t a p ro t ect i v e s weep

, wh en th e on l y t h i n g

co n nect in g Neal t o Ed ward s ’ h o m e was t h e v i ct im ’ s t ip

. In t h i s reg ard

, th e t ri al co u rt

fo u n d as fo l l o ws :

Ev ery p ol i c e o f

f i cer t es ti fi ed h o n es t l y t hey ju s t d i d n ’ t k n ow [wh et h er

Neal was at Ed ward s ’ h ou s e]

. Th ey d i d n ’ t k n o w. Th ey s u s p i ci o ned

, b u t

s u s p i ci o n — bu t t h ey ’ v e go t n o wi t n es s wh o s aw i t

, car’ s n o t th ere. Th ey

d o n ’ t hav e an y t h i n g c o n n ect in g [Neal ] t h ere ex cep t i n fo rm at i o n g i v en

b y a v i ct i m

, wh ich t h ey ’ re u n cer t a i n ab o u t

. T h ey d o n’ t k n ow wh ich

res i d en ce, i f ei t h er, h e m i g h t h av e b een at

. An d [t h e offi cers ] can ’ t v eri fy

t h at [Neal i s] real l y

n o t at t h e fi rs t p l ace[, Neal ’ s res i d en ce]

.

3 Th e co u rt l at er en t ered a wri t t en ord er d en y i n g t h e m ot i o n t o s u p p res s “ [f] o r

t h e reas o n s s tat ed i n o pen Co u rt . . . .”

5Bu t

, t h e t ri al co u rt o ral l y d en i ed Ed ward s ’ m ot i o n t o s u p p res s b as ed o n t h e i n ev i t ab l e

d i s co v ery d o ct ri n e, fi n d i n g t h at t h e offi cers co u l d h av e o b t ai n ed a s earch warra nt

b as ed o n t h e o d or o f m ari j u a n a a n d i n ev i t ab l y w o u l d h av e di s co vered Neal i n t h e

h o m e. Th e co u rt t h en fo u n d Ed ward s g ui l t y o f o b s t ru ct i o n

, b u t n ot g u il t y o f h i n d eri n g

ap p reh en s i o n o f a cri m i n al

.

1

. In h er so l e e n u m e r a t i o n of erro r o n ap p eal

, E d ward s arg u es t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n d en y in g h er m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

. E d ward s co n t en d s t h at th e i n ev i t ab l e

d i s co v ery d o ct ri n e d o es n o t ap p l y b ecau se t h e o ffi cers were n o t “ act i v el y p u rs u i n g ”

a s earch warran t b efo re en t eri n g an d s earch i n g h er h o m e. W e ag ree.

“ W h en ev i den ce i s o b tai n ed i n v i o l at i o n o f t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t

, t h e

ju d i ci al l y dev el o p ed ex cl u s io n ary ru le u s u al l y p recl ud es i t s u s e i n a cri m i n al

p ro ceed in g ag ai n s t t h e v i ct i m o f t h e i l l eg a l s e a rch an d sei zu re.” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t e d

. ) Mo b l ey v. S t a t e

, 3 07 Ga. 5 9

, 6 8 (4 ) (8 3 4 SE2 d 7 8 5 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

Ho wev er, “ t h e co u rt s h av e i den t i fi ed a n u m b er o f ex c e p t i o n s to t he us u al ru l e o f

e xc lusion,” i n cl u d i n g t h e in ev i t ab l e d i s co v ery d o ct ri n e. Id

. Pu rs u an t t o t h i s e xc e ption,

“ i f th e St at e can pro ve by a prep o n d eran ce o f th e ev i d en ce th at ev i d en ce d eri v ed fro m

p o l i ce erro r o r i l l eg al i t y wo u ld h av e b een ul t i m at el y or i nev i t ab l y d i s co v ered by

l awfu l m ean s

, t hen t h e ev i d en ce i s n o t s up p res sed as fru i t o f t h e p o i so n ou s t ree.”

6Ta

yl o r v. S t a t e

, 2 74 G a. 2 6 9

, 2 7 4 (3 ) (5 5 3 SE2 d 5 9 8) (2 00 1 ), d is ap p ro v ed o n o t h er

g ro u nd s

, S t a t e v. Ch u lp ayev

, 2 9 6 Ga. 7 6 4, 7 8 3 ( 3 ) ( b ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 8 0 8 ) (2 01 5 ). See

al s o Tea l v. S t at e

, 28 2 Ga

. 3 1 9

, 3 2 3 (2 ) (6 4 7 SE2 d 1 5 ) (2 0 0 7). Fo r t h e d o ct ri n e to

ap p ly

, “ t h ere m

us t b e a reas o n ab l e p ro bab i l i t y t h at th e e v i d e nce i n q u es t i on wo u ld

h av e b een d i s co v ered b y l awfu l m ean s

, a nd t he p ro s ecu t i o n m u s t d em o n st rat e t h at t h e

l awfu l m ean s wh i ch m ad e d i s co v ery in ev i t ab l e were po s s es s ed b y t he p o l i ce an d were

b ei n g act i v el y p u rs u ed p ri o r t o t h e o ccu rren ce of t h e i l l eg al co n d uct .” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n om i tt ed ; em

p h as i s s u p p li ed .) Mo bl ey

, 3 07 Ga. at 7 6 (4 ) (b ). T h i s “ ‘ act i v e

p u rs u i t ru l e’

. . . i s a ju di ci al effo rt t o prev en t ap p li cat i o n o f t h e i n ev it ab l e d i s co v ery

d o ct ri n e fro m em as cu lat i n g t h e s e a r ch w arran t req u i rem en t of t h e Fo u rt h

Am en d m en t .” Tea l , 2 8 2 Ga. at 3 2 5 (2 ).

As s u m i ng wi t h o u t d eci d i n g t h at t h e o ffi cers had t h e req ui si t e p ro b ab l e cau s e

t o o bt ai n a warran t b as ed o n t h e o d o r of m ari ju an a, 4 th ere i s n o ev i den ce t h at t h e

o ffi cers h ad ap p l i ed fo r a warran t o r ev en w ere p rep ari n g an ap p l i cat i o n fo r a warran t

p ri o r to en t eri ng an d s earch i ng Ed ward s ’ ho m e. See M o b l ey

, 3 0 7 Ga. at 7 6 -7 7 ( 4 )

(i nev i t ab l e d i s co v ery d o ct ri ne d i d n o t ap p l y wh ere t here was n o ev i d en ce t h at o ffi cers

4 W e ag ree wi th t h e t ri al co u rt t h at t h ere was n o t en ou g h ev id en ce fo r t h e

o ffi cers t o o b t ai n a warran t b as ed o n t h ei r s us p ici o n t h at N eal m i g h t b e i n t h e h o u s e.

7ap p li ed fo r warran t , were p rep ari n g an ap p li cat i o n , o r co n t em p l at ed a warran t p ri o r

t o t h e s earch ). Acco rd i n g l y

, th e St at e h as fai l ed t o l ay an ev id en t i ary fo u n d at i o n fo r

t h e ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e i n ev i t ab l e d i s co v ery ex cep ti o n

.

2

. Th e St at e arg u es t hat t h i s Co u rt s ho u l d no n et h el es s affi rm th e t ri al co urt ’ s

d en ial o f Ed ward s ’ m o ti o n t o s up p res s b ecau s e t he o ffi cers were ju s ti fi ed i n en t eri n g

Ed ward s ’ h om e t o co n d uct a p ro t ect i v e s weep o r, al t ern a t i v e l y, t o p rev en t t h e

i m m i n en t d es t ru ct i on o f ev i d en ce. W e fi n d n o m eri t i n t hes e co n t en t i o n s.

“ As a ru l e t o ju s t ify a n o n co n s e n s u al

, warran tl es s in t ru s i o n i n t o a p ers o n ’ s

h o m e, t h ere m

u s t ex i s t p ro b ab l e cau s e fo r t h e arres t o r search i n s id e t h e h o m e a n d a

s h o wi n g o f ex i g en t c i rcu m s t an ces .” (Ci t at io n an d p un ct u at io n o m it t ed ; em p h as i s

s u p p li ed .) W

a t s on v. St a t e

, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. 61 9

, 6 22 (1 ) (6 9 1 SE2 d 3 7 8 ) (2 0 1 0 ). Th u s

,

“ e ven i f o ffi cers hav e pro b ab l e cau s e, ab s en t ex i g en t ci rcu m s t an ce s or pr ope r c onse nt,

w a r r a n t l es s s earch es an d s ei zu res wi t h i n a h o m e b y o ffi cers i n p u rs u i t o f t h ei r

t rad i t i o n al l aw en fo rcem en t d u t i es are p res um p ti v el y u n reas o n ab l e.” 5 Ar p v. S t a t e

,

3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 40

, 3 42 (1 ) (7 59 SE2 d 57 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Su ch “ [e ]x i g e n t ci rcu m s t an ces

i n cl u d e wh ere an o ffi cer i s i n h o t p u r s u i t of a fl eei ng fel o n

, wh ere an o ffi cer

5 It i s un d i s p u t ed i n t h i s cas e th at Ed w a rd s d i d n o t co n s en t to t he o ffi cers ’

i n i t i al en t ry

an d s earch o f h er h o m e.

8reas on ab l y fea r s t h e i m m i n en t d es t ru ct io n o f ev i d en ce i f en t ry i nt o t h e res i d en ce i s

n o t i m m ed i at el y effect ed

, an d wh ere an o ffi cer reas o n ab l y p ercei v es t h at a s u s p ect

w i t h i n t he d wel l i ng p os es a ri sk o f d an g er t o t he p o l i ce o r o t h ers .” (Ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n om it t ed .) Mi n o r v. S t a te

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 1

, 3 9 6 -3 9 7 (1 ) (b ) (6 8 0 SE2 d

4 5 9 ) (2 0 0 9 ). Fi n al l y

, we m u s t k eep i n m i n d t h at “ [p ] h y s i cal en t ry o f th e h o m e i s t h e

ch i ef ev il ag ai n s t w h i ch th e w o rd i n g o f t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t i s d i rect ed

. ” (Ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Li t t le v. S t a t e

, 35 3 Ga. A p p

. 5 4 9

, 5 5 1 ( 1 ) (8 3 9 SE2 d 1 5 )

(2 0 2 0).

(a) Pr o t ect i ve s weep

.

A p ro t ect i v e sweep i s a l i m it ed search o f t he p rem i ses pri m ari l y

t o en s u re o ffi cer s a f

e t y b y d et ect i n g t h e p res en ce of o th er o ccu p an t s.

.

. . [O] ffi cers are au t h o ri zed t o p erfo rm a p ro t ect i ve s weep in co n n ect i o n

wi t h an i n -h o m e arres t wh en t h ey p o s s es s art i cu l ab l e fact s w h i ch

, t ak en

t o g et h er wi t h t h e rat i on al i n feren ces fro m t h o s e fact s

, wo u l d warran t a

reas o n ab l y p ru d en t o ffi cer i n b el iev i n g t h at t he area t o be s wep t h arb ors

an i n d i v id u al p o s i n g a d an ger t o t h o s e o n t h e arres t s cen e.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) S ta t e v. Gr a y

, 28 5 Ga. Ap p. 1 2 4

, 1 2 7

- 1 2 8 (2 )

(6 4 5 SE2 d 5 9 8 ) (2 0 0 7 ). See al so Ki r s ch e v. S ta t e

, 2 7 1 Ga. A p p . 7 2 9 , 7 3 2-7 3 3 (6 1 1

SE2 d 6 4 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (“ u s e of p ro t ect i v e s weep s h as b een li m i ted t o s weep s co n d u ct ed in

co n nect io n wi th an i n

- h o m e a rres t

. . . o r wh ere t h e o ffi cers hav e art i cu lab l e fact s

9s u gg es t i n g t h at an area m ay b e h arb o ri n g s om eo n e wh o p o s es a d an ger t o t h e m ” )

(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

Fi rs t

, t h ere w as no “ i n-h o m e” arres t

, wh i ch w o u l d h av e ju s t i fi ed t h e s weep

, as

n o o n e h ad b een arres t ed at t he t i m e t h e s weep o ccu rred

. See Gr a y

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. at

1 2 7 -1 2 8 (2 ). “ In s t ead

, t h e u n d i s p u t ed ev i d en ce sh o w s t h at t h e o ffi cers ’ en try i n t o an d

s earch o f t h e res i d en ce p reced ed [Neal ’ s d i sco v ery an d ] arres t . . . .” S t a t e v. Pa n d o

,

2 8 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0

, 7 3 (1 ) (b ) (6 4 3 SE2 d 3 4 2) (2 0 0 7), o v erru l ed o n o t h er g ro u n d s

, S t a t e

v. Ka z mi er cz a k , 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p . 8 1 7 , 8 2 3 (7 7 1 SE2 d 4 73 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

Se c o n d

, a s t h e t ri al co urt fo u n d, t h e St at e fai l ed t o s h o w t h at th e o ffi cers

p o s s es s ed art i cu l ab l e fact s t h at wo ul d warran t a reas o n ab l y p ru den t o ffi cer in

b el i ev i n g t h at Ed ward s ’ ho m e harb ored an i n d i v i d u al po s i ng a d an g er to t hem

. Th ere

was n o ev i d en ce th at Ed w ard s ’ car, al l eg ed l y b ei n g d ri v en b y Neal

, was at E d ward s ’

h o m e wh en t h e offi cers arri v ed

. No t h in g co n n ect e d N e a l t o Ed w ard s ’ h o m e ap art

fro m t h e v i c t i m ’s t ip t hat Neal m i g h t b e fo u n d at ei t h er h i s ap art m en t o r E d ward s ’

h o u s e, an d as t h e t ri al co u rt al s o fo u nd

, t h e o ffi cers were n o t s u re t hat Neal was n ot

i n h i s ap art m en t wh en th ey en t ered Ed w ar d s ’ h o u s e

. “ A m ere i n ch o at e an d

u n p art i cu l ari zed s u s p i ci on o r h u n ch t hat t h e h o m e m ay h arb o r an i n d i v i d u al p o s i n g

a d an g er t o t h e o ffi cers i s i n s u ffi ci en t to s u p p o rt a w arran t l es s s weep

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d

10p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Ca u s ey v

. S t a t e

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p. 1 7 0

, 1 7 3 (2 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 8 0 0 )

(2 0 1 5)

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e ev i d en ce s u p p ort s t h e tri al co urt ’ s fi n d in g th at t h e o ffi cers

were no t au t h o ri zed i n en t eri n g Ed ward s’ h o m e t o co n d u ct a p ro t ect i v e s weep

. S ee

Gr a y

, 2 8 5 Ga. A pp

. at 1 2 7 -1 2 8 (2 ) (o ffi cers ’ warran t l es s en t ry i nt o h o m e no t ju s t i fi ed

as pro t ect i v e s w eep wh ere i t was n o t i n ci d en t t o arres t an d t h ere was n o ev i den ce t h at

s o m eo n e was in si d e t h e h ou s e o r t h at o ffi cers an d o t h ers s tan d i ng o u t s i de t h e h o u s e

were i n d an g er); Pa n d

o , 2 8 4 Ga. Ap p . at 7 2 -7 4 (1 ) (b ) (s am e).

(b ) Pr even t immi n en t d

es t r u ct i o n of evi d

en ce. T o t h e ex t en t t h e St at e n o w

co n ten d s t h at t h e w arran t l es s en t ry an d s weep w ere ju st i fi ed t o p rev en t t h e i m m i n en t

d es t ru ct io n o f ev i den ce b y s o m eo n e i n s i d e E dward s ’ h o m e, t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed

at t h e b en ch t ri al d oes n o t s u p po rt th i s co nt en t i o n. “ [E] x ig en t ci rcu m s t an ces m ay b e

fo u n d wh ere an offi cer reas o n ab l y fears t h e i m m i n en t d es t ru ct i o n o f ev id en ce i f en t ry

i n t o t he res i d en ce i s n o t i m m ed i at el y effect ed .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Ja mes v. S t a t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 6, 65 9 (6 7 0 SE2 d 1 8 1 ) (2 0 0 8 ). Ho w ev er, “ t h e

p res en ce o f co n trab an d [i n s i d e a res i d en ce] wi t h ou t m o re do es n o t g i v e ri s e t o ex i g en t

ci rcu m s t an ces

. ” (Ci t at i o n a nd punc t uat i o n o m i tt ed .) Cu r r

y v. S t at e

, 2 7 1 G a. Ap p

. 6 7 2,

6 7 5 (2 ) (6 1 0 SE2 d 6 3 5 ) (2 0 0 5)

. Co m p are S t a t e v. Al

f o r d

, 3 4 7 G a. Ap p

. 2 0 8

, 2 1 4 (3 )

(8 1 8 SE2 d 6 68 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (“ Un d er t h e au t o m o bi l e ex cep t i o n t o t h e warran t req u i rem en t

11i m

p o s ed b y t h e Fo urt h Am en d m en t

, a p o l i ce o ffi cer m a y s e arch a ca r wi t h o u t [a]

warran t i f h e h as p ro b ab le cau s e t o b el i ev e t h e car co n t ai n s co n trab an d

, ev en i f t h ere

i s n o ex ig en cy p rev en ti n g t h e o ffi cer fro m g et t i n g a s earch warran t .”) (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em

p has i s s u pp l i ed .) See al s o S ta t e v. Vi cker s

, 3 39 Ga. Ap p

. 2 7 2,

2 7 3 -2 7 7 (7 9 3 SE2 d 1 6 7 ) (2 01 6 ) (p h y s i cal preced en t o nl y ) (au t o m o b i le ex cep t i o n d id

n o t ap p l y t o car park ed i n res i d en t i al d ri veway an d t h u s o d o r o f m ari ju an a em an at i n g

fro m car d i d n o t ju s t ify

warran tl es s s earch o f car ab s en t ex i gen t ci rcu m s t an ces ).

Here, th e reco rd s i m

p l y l ack s a n y e v i den ce t h at a p ro t ect i v e s weep was

ju s t ifi ed o r t h at co nt rab an d was i n i m m ed i at e d an g er o f d es t ru ct i o n s u ch t h a t t h e

o ffi ce r s w e r e au t h o ri zed t o en t er Ed ward s ’ h o m e wi t h o ut a search warran t

. 6

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e t ri al co u rt s h o u l d hav e g ran t ed t h e m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

. Th u s

,

Ed ward s ’ co n v i ct io n m

u s t b e rev ers ed

, an d t h e cas e rem an d ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt wi th

d i rect i o n t o g ran t h er m o t i o n t o s u pp res s

.

Ju d g men t r ever

sed a n d ca s e r ema n d

ed wi t h d ir ect i on

. Di l l a r d

, P. J., a n d

Ri ckma n , J., co n cu r

.

6 Th e St at e d o es n ot al l eg e o th er ex i g e n t c i r c u m s tan ces t o ju s t i fy t h e

warran t l es s en t ry

an d s earch

.

12