Opinion ID: 2056434
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Suppression of Lock Box

Text: Appellant also contends, in a cursory argument, that the only reason a lock box was discovered was due to the initial warrantless entry which resulted in the initial search warrant by police. Once the observations made by police are removed from the affidavit, Appellant maintains that there is not probable cause to search the residence. Furthermore, Appellant asserts that the only reference to the lock box was that it was located in Appellant's bedroom, under the bed where the police observed a pool of blood. Appellant submits that the affidavit of probable cause is devoid of explanation regarding how the items in the lock box are connected to criminal activity or what might be found inside the lock box. Thus, according to Appellant, the items taken from the lock box should be suppressed. The Commonwealth asserts that the officers at Appellant's apartment vacated the premises after determining that there were no additional victims at the scene, and awaited the issuance of a warrant. The warrant provided for seizure of, inter alia, ammunition, photographs, records of ownership and occupancy, and any other forensic evidence which may be related to the case. It was reasonable, according to the Commonwealth, that the lock box located under Appellant's bed, near a fresh pool of blood, would contain any or all of the items listed above. Furthermore, the Commonwealth obtained a second search warrant for the contents of the lock box, which contained prescription bottles, a spoon with residue, a syringe, miscellaneous documents and IDs, a letter from Appellant's brother, Cory, and assorted coins. As noted above, the suppression court determined that, based upon the circumstances, a lawful security check was fully justified, permitting the officers to legally be in the residence without a search warrant. Thereafter, the police followed the proper procedures in obtaining a valid search warrant to seize, open, and search the lock box. We find that Appellant has failed to establish that the search warrant obtained for the lock box was not supported by probable cause. As referenced above, the initial warrantless search was justified by the exigent circumstances exception to the warrant requirement. Thereafter, the officers vacated the premises without seizing any items and waited for the issuance of a warrant. The warrant was properly issued. The lock box, lying near the pool of blood in Appellant's room and a bullet casing, was seized during the search of the residence pursuant to the warrant which permitted seizure of ammunition, photographs, records of ownership and occupancy, and other forensic evidence related to the case. Thus, we agree with the trial court and the Commonwealth that it was probable that evidence of the crime would be contained in the lock box located under Appellant's bed, near a fresh pool of blood and a bullet casing, and that it could contain certain of the items listed in the search warrant. Furthermore, as noted above, a second warrant was issued for the contents of the lock box. Thus, we believe that Appellant has failed to establish that the seizure of the lock box and its contents was improper. [16]