Opinion ID: 1779869
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether there was Probable Cause to Issue the Search Warrant

Text: ¶ 24. If the police require an accused to submit a blood sample, probable cause must exist to prove that the accused committed a crime. McDuff v. State, 763 So.2d 850, 854 (Miss.2000). In order for the police to be granted a search warrant they must demonstrate to the judge evidence of underlying facts and circumstances necessary to provide a substantial basis for finding probable cause. Petti, 666 So.2d at 757. ¶ 25. In the present case the police presented Judge Lewis with the following evidence: 1) an aggravated assault of two victims occurred in Holmes County leaving both in critical condition and unconscious; 2) a large amount of blood was present at the crime scene; 3) a police officer saw defendants Culp and Lowe talking with the victims earlier that evening; 4) Sheriff March had observed spots on Culp's clothes and on Lowe's shoe that appeared to be blood; and 5) the crime scene had an imprint of tennis shoe similar to Lowe's shoe. Such evidence gives rise to a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause exists. The trial judge did not err in issuing a warrant to have a sample of Culp's blood taken.