Opinion ID: 1206232
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Search of the Backpack.

Text: A search conducted without a warrant is prima facie invalid unless it falls within the limits of one of several well-recognized exceptions to the warrant requirement. People v. Casias, Colo., 563 P.2d 926 (1976). Even a lawful arrest does not justify a general exploratory search as incident to that arrest where no exigent circumstances preclude obtaining a warrant and following normal procedures. Hernandez v. People, 153 Colo. 316, 385 P.2d 996 (1963). Here the appellee's expectation of privacy with regard to his closed backpack was sufficient to invoke constitutional protections against unreasonable police intrusion. U.S. Const. amend. IV; Colo.Const. Art. II, sec. 7; People v. Counterman, Colo., 556 P.2d 481 (1976). In this case, our review of the record indicates that there was sufficient evidence to sustain the trial court's finding that the search was unreasonable and that no special circumstances justified the officers in searching the backpack without first obtaining a warrant. Cf. People v. Hilber, 69 Mich.App. 664, 245 N.W.2d 156 (1976).