Opinion ID: 2273474
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Scope of the Particular Intrusion

Text: The scope of the search in this case was broad. It involved the exposure of Appellee's buttocks and genital area and we agree that regardless of how professionally, and courteously conducted, it is an embarrassing and humiliating experience by definition. Hunter v. Auger, 672 F.2d 668, 674 (8th Cir.1982). Outside of a physical examination, chemical examination, or cavity search, this type of search is the most invasive performed. Thus, we find that a more intensive analysis is necessary when searches of this nature are conducted, especially when done in the field. That is not to say, however, that these searches are per se prohibitedno court in this Commonwealth has ever made such a declaration, and we decline to do so today. But we do note that officers should be cautious when performing these types of searches, outside of a sanitary and secure police station. And while this case provides facts sufficient to support the reasonableness of the search conducted, that will not always be the case. Indeed, the police risk the loss of evidence when they subject arrestees to strip searches outside of the police station, and even sometimes when the search is conducted in the station house. See Stewart, 767 F.2d at 156-57 (holding strip searches conducted in the station house without reasonable suspicion that minor offenders had possession of contraband are unreasonable and violate the Fourth Amendment). Here, as stated above, the officers faced a dangerous situation. With the knowledge that Appellee sometimes carried weapons and that an altercation was taking place, the officers proceeded through the confines of an apartment to investigate. Upon witnessing Appellee place something in his pubic area, and determining it to be contraband after performing a Terry frisk, the officer decided to visually search the external parts of Appellee's groin and buttocks. The officers did not probe into Appellee's body cavity and neither did they manipulate any part of his anatomy. The scope of this search was confined to visually inspecting what the officer immediately knew to be contraband. Thus, after fully weighing the facts surrounding this search, we conclude that its broad nature was necessary and was constitutionally in bounds.