Opinion ID: 2632419
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Issue of Exigent Circumstances is Properly Before This Court

Text: The Payton reasonable belief standard applies unless police entry is otherwise justified by exigent circumstances. See Payton, 445 U.S. at 583, 100 S.Ct. 1371 (recognizing that exigent circumstances may justify warrantless entry into a residence to make an arrest); 3 LaFave, supra, § 6.1(f) (same). Because exigent circumstances are an exception to the Payton standard, the doctrine is so inextricably intertwined with the Payton analysis for which we granted certiorari that the issue of exigent circumstances is properly before this Court. Even though the parties did not argue [4] nor did the courts below decide the issue, the People briefed the issue to this Court and we find the doctrine of exigent circumstances determinative in this case. On appeal, a party may defend the trial court's judgment on any ground supported by the record, whether relied upon or even considered by the trial court. People v. Eppens, 979 P.2d 14, 22 (Colo.1999). This Court has discretion to affirm the trial court's denial of Aarness's motion to suppress on different grounds than those relied upon by the trial court. See, e.g. People v. May, 859 P.2d 879, 882 (Colo.1993) (affirming the trial court's suppression ruling on different grounds); People v. Martinez, 32 P.3d 520, 525-26 (Colo.App.2001) (same), abrogated on other grounds by People v. Johnson, 121 P.3d 285 (Colo.App.2005). We choose to exercise that discretion here. While we recognize that the prosecution generally has the burden to prove the presence of exigent circumstances, Pate, 71 P.3d at 1010, we hold that exigent circumstances were present in this case as a matter of law based on the undisputed facts in the record.