Opinion ID: 1302905
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Safe Deposit Box Keys.

Text: Defendant further argues that even if the warrant to search the 33rd St. residence were valid, the seizure of defendant's safe deposit box keys during the execution of the warrant was plainly unlawful because the warrant authorized seizure only of keys fitting padlocks to garage 29. Moreover, claims defendant, this unlawful seizure invalidated the officer's subsequent procurement of a warrant to search the safe deposit box. Thus the evidence uncovered by that search should similarly be suppressed under the Wong Sun rationale. While the general rule is that a search must be confined to the terms and limitations of the warrant authorizing it, it is widely recognized that officers executing a valid search warrant may seize additional incriminating evidence found during execution of the warrant. See Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 465-66, 91 S.Ct. 2022, 2037-38, 29 L.Ed.2d 564, 582-83, reh'g denied, 404 U.S. 874, 92 S.Ct. 26, 30 L.Ed.2d 120 (1971); United States v. Eschweiler, 745 F.2d 435, 439-40 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1214, 105 S.Ct. 1188, 84 L.Ed.2d 334 (1984); United States v. Freeman, 685 F.2d 942, 957-58 (5th Cir.), reh'g. denied, 689 F.2d 190 (1982); State v. Oliver, 341 N.W.2d 744, 745-47 (Iowa 1983). Where, as here, a search warrant issued in connection with a burglary investigation authorizes seizure of specifically identified keys, other courts have held that officers executing that warrant may validly seize a safe deposit box key which they reasonably believe may lead to the discovery of stolen property. United States v. Eschweiler, 745 F.2d at 439-40; see also United States v. Freeman, 685 F.2d at 957-58. At the suppression hearing, the officers testified to their reasonable belief that the safety deposit key would lead them to the discovery of more stolen property. Under the circumstances, we conclude that the officer's suspicion was justified and seizure of the keys was legal. Cf., United States v. Eschweiler, 745 F.2d at 439-40. Because the application for a warrant authorizing search of the defendant's safe deposit box was supported by probable cause established through valid police investigation, we affirm the district court's denial of the motion to suppress.