Document: 437 U.S. 385 98 S.Ct. 2408 57 L.Ed.2d 290 Rufus Junior MINCEY, Petitioner,v.State of ARIZONA. No. 77-5353. Argued Feb. 21, 1978. Decided June Syllabus During a narcotics raid on petitioner's apartment by an undercover police officer and several plainclothes policemen, the was shot killed, petitioner wounded, as were two other persons in apartment. Other than looking for victims shooting arranging medical assistance, agents, pursuant to department directive that officers should not investigate incidents which they are involved, made no further investigation. Shortly thereafter, however, homicide detectives arrived scene take charge investigation, proceeded conduct exhaustive four-day warrantless search apartment, included opening dresser drawers, ripping up carpets, seizure 200 300 objects. In evening same day raid, one went hospital where confined intensive-care unit, and, after giving him Miranda warnings, persisted interrogating while he lying bed barely conscious, encumbered tubes, needles, breathing apparatus, despite fact repeatedly asked interrogation stop until could get lawyer. Subsequently, indicted for, convicted of, murder, assault, offenses. At his trial Arizona court, during much evidence introduced against product search, appeal, contended used had been unlawfully seized from without warrant statements obtained at hospital, impeach credibility, inadmissible because voluntarily. The Supreme Court reversed murder assault convictions state-law grounds, but affirmed convictions, holding is permissible under Fourth Fourteenth Amendments voluntary. Held : 1. "murder exception" created requirement inconsistent with Amendments, constitutitionally simply occurred there. Pp. 388-395. (a) cannot be justified ground constitutionally protected right privacy invaded, it being thing say who legally taken into custody has lessened person, quite another argue also entire house. 391-392. (b) Nor can possible inevitably presents emergency situation, especially since there threatening life or limb, all having located before began. 392-393. (c) seriousness offense investigation did itself create exigent circumstances kind Amendment justify indication would lost, destroyed, removed time required obtain suggestion easily conveniently have obtained. 393-394. (d) Court's guidelines afford sufficient protection person whose home occurs, conferred unbridled discretion upon individual interpret such terms "reasonable . search," "serious personal injury likelihood death reason suspect foul play," period," this judgmental assessment reasonableness scope proposed requires neutral objective magistra e, officer. 394-395. 2. Due process any way trial, apparent record "the free rational choice," Greenwald v. Wisconsin, 390 519, 521, 88 1152, 1153, 20 77, contrary wanted answer interrogator, weakened pain shock, isolated family, friends, legal counsel, will overborne. While defendant violating strictures Arizona, 384 436, 86 1602, 16 694, admissible impeachment if their "trustworthiness satisfies standards," Harris New York, 401 222, 224, 91 643, 645, 28 1; Oregon Hass, 420 714, 722, 95 1215, 1220, 43 570, criminal use involuntary statement denial due law. 396-402. 115 Ariz. 472, 566 P.2d 273, remanded. Richard Oseran, Tucson, Ariz., petitioner. Galen H. Wilkes, Phoenix, respondent. Mr. Justice STEWART delivered opinion Court. 1 On afternoon October 28, 1974, Barry Headricks Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad knocked door occupied petitioner, Mincey. Earlier day, Officer allegedly arranged purchase quantity heroin Mincey left, ostensibly money. return accompanied nine policemen deputy county attorney. opened John Hodgman, three acquaintances living room slipped inside moved quickly bedroom. Hodgman attempted slam order keep entering, pushed back wall. As entered rapid volley shots heard emerged collapsed floor. When bedroom found floor, wounded semiconscious. died few hours later hospital. 2 assault,1 counts He tried single charges. credibility grounds,2 convictions. 273. It held Mincey's We granted certiorari consider these substantial constitutional questions. 434 902, 295, 54 188. 3 * first question presented whether permissible. After shooting, thinking might injured, looked about victims. They young woman bedroo closet apparently unconscious bedroom, well (one whom head) room. Emergency assistance requested, some aid administered Headricks. But agents refrained Tucson Police Department involved. neither searched nor evidence; merely guarded suspects premises. 4 Within 10 minutes, radio report took supervised removal suspects, trying make sure disturbed little possible, then gather evidence. Their lasted four days,3 period searched, photographed, diagrammed. closets, cupboards, inspected contents; emptied clothing pockets; dug bullet fragments out walls floors; pulled sections carpet them examination. Every item closely examined inventoried, objects seized. short, subjected intrusive search. No ever 5 pretrial motion suppress fruits denied hearing. Much (including photographs diagrams, bullets shell casings, guns, narcotics, paraphernalia) reaffirmed previous decisions permissible.4 stated its ruling follows: 6 "We hold reasonable, homicide—or serious play— does violate United States Constitution law enforcement premises instance. For purpose must limited determining exceed purpose. begin within reasonable following when officials learn (or potential murder)." 482, P.2d, 283. 7 Since investigating knew seriously began promptly arrival only either establishing "relevant motive intent knowledge (narcotics, e. g.)," id., 483, 284, court violated Amendments. 8 agree. proscribes unreasonable searches seizures, cardinal principle "searches onducted outside judicial process, prior approval judge magistrate, per se Amendment—subject specifically established well-delineated exceptions." Katz States, 389 347, 357, 507, 514, 19 576 (footnotes omitted); see South Dakota Opperman, 428 364, 381, 96 3092, 3103, 49 1000 (POWELL, J., concurring); Coolidge Hampshire, 403 443, 481, 2022, 2045, 29 564; Vale Louisiana, 399 30, 34, 90 1969, 1971, 26 409; Terry Ohio, 392 1, 20, 1868, 1879, 889; Trupiano 334 699, 705, 68 1229, 1232, 92 L.Ed. 1663. fell exceptions previously recognized Court, rather additional exception. 9 Several reasons advanced State meet "burden show existence exceptional situation" creating new exception requirement. See supra, U.S., S.Ct., 1971; Jeffers, 342 48, 51, 72 93, 95, 59. None reasons, persuades us validity generic delineated contention invade privacy. supra. This argument appears prongs. hand, urges Headricks, forfeited expectation recently rejected similar waiver Michigan Tyler, 436 499, 505-506, 1942, 1948, 56 486; suffices here reasoning impermissibly convict even gathered.5 contends entry arrest so great invasion intrusion caused irrelevant. claim hardly tenable light extensive nature person. Edwards, 415 800, 808-809, 94 1234, 1239, 39 771; Robinson, 414 218, 467, 38 427. Indeed very support dwelling "incident" occupant. Chimel California, 395 752, 766 n. 12, 89 2034, 2042, 23 685. Thus, invaded. 11 State's second categorical situation demanding immediate action. do respond situations. Numerous state6 federal7 cases bar making entries reasonably believe need aid. Similarly, come may prompt area killer still Cf. 509-510, 1950-1951. "The protect preserve avoid justification what otherwise illegal absent exigency emergency." Wayne U.S.App.D.C. 234, 241, 318 F.2d 205, 212 (opinion Burger, J.). And seize plain view course legitimate activities. 1950-1951; 465-466, 2037-2038. 12 "strictly circumscribed exigencies initiation," 25-26, 1882, limb. All drawers carpets rationalized concerns 13 Third, points vital public interest extremely crime murder. doubt importance goal. crimes comparable. If why rape, robbery, burglary? "No consideration relevant suggests point limitation" doctrine. 766, 2041. 14 Moreover, mere more efficient never disregard Amendment. 2045. always simplified warrants unnecessary. reflects those wrote Bill Rights person's property totally sacrificed name maximum simplicity Chadwick, 433 6-11, 97 2476, 2481-2483, 53 538. reason, generally unless needs compelling objectively McDonald 335 451, 456, 69 191, 193, 93 153, Johnson 333 10, 14-15, 367, 369, 436. See, g., supra (search arrested control weapons evidence); Warden Hayden, 387 294, 298-300, 87 1642, 18 782 ("hot pursuit" fleeting suspect); Schmerber 757, 770-771, 1826, 1835-1836, 908 (imminent destruction 15 Except homicide, case, as, indeed, recognized. There warrant. Indeed, guard minimized possibility. decline creates Finally, argues narrowly set forth decision 389-390.8 place case questioned occurs. so-called rigidly confining seems assert. confer period." precisely District 407 297, 316, 2125, 2136, 32 752; 449-453, 2029-2031; Mancusi DeForte, 371, 2120, 1154; Wong Sun 371 471, 481-482, 83 407, 413-414, 441. 17 described usually scope. judgment each instance magistrate. Amendment, often grasped zealous officers, denies usual inferences men draw Its consists requiring drawn detached magistrate instead judged engaged competitive enterprise ferreting crime." 13-14, 369. sum, we Amendments—that there.9 II presumably case,10 appropriate involuntary, therefore trial. 21 brought immediately treated. sustained wound hip, resulting damage sciatic nerve partial paralysis leg. Tubes inserted throat help breathe, through nose stomach vomiting; catheter bladder. received various drugs, device attached arm fed intravenously. intensive care unit. 22 eight o'clock evening, Detective Hust came unit interrogate him. unable talk tube mouth, responded Hust's questions writing answers pieces paper provided hospital.11 told officer, gave warnings ask events earlier. Although lawyer, continued almost midnight. hearing, Jackson Denno, 378 368, 84 1774, 908, voluntarily.12 witness stand response effort testimony respects.13 indicated belief failed honor request part prosecution's chief. relying court's finding voluntariness "clear[ly] manifest[ly]" erroneous properly purposes impeachment. 480, 281. 24 Statements standards." 645; 1220. law, "even though ample aside confession conviction." 376, 1780; Haynes Washington, 373 503, 518, 1336, 1345, 513; Lynumn Illinois, 372 528, 537, 917, 922, 922; Stroble 343 181, 190, 599, 603, 872; Chapman 386 18, 8, 824, 828, 705. therefore, " 'the intellect ,' Townsend Sain, 293, 307, 745, 754, 770, quoting Blackburn Alabama, 361 199, 208, 80 274, 280, 242, conviction stand. critical determination, bound Instead, duty independent evaluation record. Davis North Carolina, 737, 741-742, 1761, 1764, 895; 515-516, 1345. 25 hard imagine less conducive exercise "a will" Mincey's. just earlier, "depressed coma," according attending physician. treatment, condition sufficiently unit.14 complained leg "unbearable." evidently confused think clearly interrogation, written face entirely coherent.15 bed, apparatus. was, "at complete mercy" Hust, escape resist thrust interrogation. Beecher 35, 38, 89, 35. debilitated helpless condition, expressed wish interrogated. soon turned details afternoon's events, wrote: "This I lawyer." nonetheless him, nurse present suggested best answered. unresponsive uninformative questions, said again want ignored thereafter.16 throughout vainly desist. times clearly, accurately next day.17 entreaties let alone, ceased intervals lost consciousness interruption returned relentlessly task. issue thus result virtually continuous questioning painfully man edge consciousness. 27 gross abuses led find confessions beatings, Brown Mississippi, 297 278, 461, 682, "truth serums," 770. blood accused hallmark unconstitutional inquisition." 206, 279. Determination "requires color-matching cases." Reck Pate, 367 433, 442, 81 1541, 1547, 948. careful interrogation.18 choice." 1154, 77. To contrary, undisputed makes clear Hust. III foregoing reversed, remanded proceedings opinion. 30 ordered. 31 MARSHALL, BRENNAN joins, concurring. join holds rights violated. write today emphasize illustrated instant applies review issues arising state 33 far solely resolve involuntary-statement resolved federal habeas corpus. With regard issue, choice grant review, our Stone Powell, 465, 3037, L. d.2d 1067 (1976), precludes issues. that, "where opportunity full fair litigation claim, prisoner corpus relief trial." Id., 494, 3052 omitted). Because holding, able unanimously upholds. 34 responsibilities placed wake become examination here. "murder-scene 1971 case. Sample, 107 409-410, 489 44, 46-47. A year later, sought relief, Appeals Ninth Circuit ruled, today, upheld Sample Eyman, 469 819, 821-822 (1972). plenary Stone, felt Circuit's decision, although distinguishable. Duke, 110 320, 324, 518 574 (1974).1 35 rendered different approach. issued nearly noted "disagreed" 482 4, 283 (1977). effective "conflict" resolve. Rule 19(1)(b). granted, left standing highest directly opposing special responsibility State. Regardless correct one, nonuniformity obviously undesirable; unfair prosecutors judges—who difficult determinations regarding subject exclusion—as defendants. 36 Prior this, remedy available defendant. probably utilize habeas, courts earlier inclined follow pronouncements Circuit, discussed above. eliminated violations, allowing state-court rulings diverge lower federal-co rt placing correspondingly greater burden ensure uniform area. 37 my Brother "institutional constraints preclude possibility adequately oversee applied law." 526, 3067 (dissenting opinion); 534, 3071. constraints, faced Hobson's national significance formerly courts: deny thereby divergent rights; add calendar, many already overcrowded, better elsewhere. problem others,2 hope reconsider wisdom Powell.3 REHNQUIST, concurring dissenting part. Petitioner 273 petition certiorari, challenged introduction material lengthy grounds relating charge. 188, reverses both agree justifiable dissent inadmissible. 40 Part recognized, not, facts developed "fit [any] 'exigent circumstances' exception." asks adopt separate scene" opinion, correctly rejects invitation. 41 separately what, any, standards open remand. Ante, 9. shooting. App. 40. brief evidence—for example, floor Brief Respondent 70-71. "lost, removed" obtained, ante, 394, considered remand courts. 42 onsidering particular evidence, ignored. police's Mincey, followed victims, constitutionality depends balance between individual's security arbitrary interference officers." Brignoni-Ponce, 422 873, 878, 2574, 2579, 45 607 (1975). 19, 1878, 889 (1968). Pennsylvania Mimms, 106, 330, 331 (1977), once motor vehicle lawfully detained traffic violation, driver vehicle. emphasized "occasioned initial vehicle, admittedly justified, car. de minimis." 111, 333. intrusions occasioned thereto legitimize tamer permit advises admissibility certain retrial, reach issue. addresses register disagreement conclusion. 44 Before acknowledges, 'with unmistakable clarity' voluntary, 397 affirmed. 479-480, 280-281. now disagrees "Mincey's choice' "cannot [him] 401, 402. accord deference findings misapplied past precedents, dissent. notes, 398, "not fairly supported conclusive rights." 758, 770 (1963) (emphasis added). require "make determination facts." 872 (1952) added); Malinski 324 404, 65 781, 783, 1029 (1945). "for jury ordinarily evidentiary conflicts entitled weight respect ultimate conclusion crucial voluntariness." 515, 1344, 513 (1963). Lisenba 314 219, 238, 62 290, 166 (1941); 5, 279, 242 (1960). Such deference, particularly resolution e identiary conflicts, "is apposite closest afforded evaluate contradictory testimony." Haynes, 516, 1344. 46 ignores distinguishes away yet testimony. discounting laden down equipment. certainly move paper. find, imply, consciousness." 401. accurate conclude "ceased task." Ibid. 47 observed affirming voluntariness, 48 "testified she given [Mincey] medication [he] alert understand officer's She moderate cooperative everyone. testified appear influence drugs [his] responsive questions." 50-51 (testimony Hust), 63 66 Nurse Graham).1 uncontradicted reveals "relentless." interviews over three-hour span, "very long; hour total everything." leave whenever treatment "or like getting bit exhausted." According "los[t] time." 58. 50 openly concedes, none "gross beatings 'truth serums.' Neither defendant's "simply overborne" "mental coercion." 301 279; 741, 895 (1966); 77 observed, Graham "that mental physical force abuse [Mincey]. promises made." 58-59 Hust) Graham). own testimony, could" "to r collection going on." 86. compelled propounded.2 Greenwald, 1153. 51 By enunciated cases, goes too substituting State, decided disputed differently good deal closer factual occurrences Admittedly abdicate decide guise wholly remitting function factfinding necessary ingredient decision. authorities cited likewise counsel extreme, attempting extract cold bits treat "facts" notwithstanding admissible. equally opposite adopting 52 based wounding hit appellate improperly instructed intent. retrial charges stayed November landlord, remove remained lease expired 31. 44; ex rel. Berger Superior 281, 517 1277; 570. writ filed ground, inter alia, 819. rationale inapplicable victim stranger, indicate 409, 46. E. People Hill, Cal.3d 731, 753-757, 117 Cal.Rptr. 393, 410-413, 528 18-21; Patrick 227 A.2d 486, 488-490 (Del.); Brooks, Ill.App.3d 767, 775-777, 289 N.E.2d 207, 212-214; Maxey 251 Ind. 649-650, 244 650, 653-654; 236 Md. 389, 395-397, 204 76, 80-82; Hardin, Nev. 151; Gosser, N.J. 438, 446-448, 377, 381-382; Mitchell, N.Y.2d 173, 383 N.Y.S.2d 246, 347 607; Pires, 55 Wis.2d 597, 603-605, 201 N.W.2d 156-158. collected Note, Doctrine, Civil Search Seizure, Ford.L.Rev. 571, 584 102 ALI Model Code Pre-Arraignment Procedure § §§ 260.5 (Prop.Off. Draft 1975). citing note following, course, mean approve specific Root Gauper, 438 361, 364-365 (CA8); Barone, 330 543 (CA2); 238-243, 209-214 J.); James, 408 F.Supp. 527, 533 (SD Miss.); Parson Anderson, 354 1060, 1086-1087 (Del.), aff'd, 481 (CA3); 298-299, 1646, 782; 454-456, 192-193, 153; relies observance enforced designed prevent, redress, unlawful action." extent, permissibly 2, conducted, contemporaneous consisted answers. document notes reconstruct conversation. dated week transcribed added believed asked. cross-examine subsequent fact, admission Denno. pear[s] clarity." Sims Georgia, 538, 544, 639, 593. originally grounds: elicited violation involuntary. prosecution stipulated Any became 570; briefs arguments thereafter directed voluntarily given, ruled only. necessarily responses unnecessary alternative impermissible suppression hearing respiration reserved "more critical" patients. hospitalized month docket arraignment postponed hospital; arraigned 26, 1974. were: "Do you me Did give money (no)" "Every body know body." alone; killed policeman, thought someone else. reconstruction 11, try identify ensued: "HUST: What remember happened? "MINCEY: somebody saying 'move nigger, move.' beside bed. Do anyone firing gun? lawyer now, longer, don't to. me? (Shook head affirmative manner.) else remember? I'm put together. things I. Like how apartment? How Police. sell guy shot? mean, money? Yes. sample? call small amount drug narcotic test? can't narcs Let myself together first. You see, everything happened fast. so, sure. Some aren't time. shoot anyone? say, (Emphasis supplied.) seem relatively remembered date, front reliability uncertain. exa ple, claimed desire remain silent, indicating continue. supporting acted inconsistently asserting further, corroborate disbelieved respect, "after consult attorney answering [him]." 479, 280 supplied). addition quoted 16, interrogation: "There lot clear," "Thats redo mind," "I'm now." "If now. finish talk. direct direction saw something means else." "Lets rap tomarrow. face. facts. happins about." ended, requests Boulden Holman, 394 478, 1138, 1139, 433; Clewis Texas, 707, 708, 1338, 1339, 423; 513-514, 1842-1843, 513. Duke involved murder-scene 1277 (1974). two-sentence latter provides explanation underlying cite Sample. determine comparable disregarded instead, (decided weeks ), viewed eased majority hoped, struggle meant "an claim," 3052. Gates Henderson, 568 830 (CA2 1977); Petillo Jersey, 562 903 (CA3 O'Berry Wainwright, 546 1204 (CA5 1977). bill currently pending Congress effect overruling Powell. S. 1314, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. (1977); 123 Cong.Rec. (11347-11353 (1977)). legible sensible fashion." 480 3, 281 3. concedes questions," 400 chooses ignore "reliability uncertain." Despite impression ibid., casts witnesses re-examination appeal. willingness continue talking 399-400, 16. chief impeachment, 694 (1966), (1971); 570

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