Opinion ID: 2632419
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Exigent Circumstances Are Present in This Case

Text: A warrantless search or seizure is unreasonable and thereby unconstitutional unless justified by an established exception to the Warrant Clause of the Fourth Amendment. People v. Kluhsman, 980 P.2d 529, 534 (Colo.1999). Exigent circumstances that necessitate immediate police action are one such exception. Id. To meet the requirements of the exigent circumstances doctrine, police must have probable cause to believe that the residence contains contraband or evidence of criminal activity, and exigent circumstances must justify a warrantless entry. Pate, 71 P.3d at 1010. Here, probable cause is not at issue because the police had an arrest warrant for Aarness which was based on probable cause. Thus, we turn to the issue of exigent circumstances. We have recognized three situations in which exigent circumstances justify a warrantless search: (1) the police are engaged in a hot pursuit of a fleeing suspect; (2) there is a risk of immediate destruction of evidence; or (3) there is a colorable claim of emergency threatening the life or safety of another. Kluhsman, 980 P.2d at 534. The scope of the permissible intrusion is determined by the exigency justifying the initiation of the warrantless entry. Id. The People argue two possible exigencies in this casea risk of immediate destruction of evidence and the safety of officers and other occupants. We address each position in turn.