Court Opinion

ID: 9763449
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 02:45:30.048868+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:43.515099
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Price, J.:
I believe the procedures followed by the police were correct under the existing case law and under the Fourth Amendment, and I must, therefore, dissent. There must be a proper balancing of the right of our citizens to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the maintenance of an effective police force. I do not believe the majority maintains such a balance in this case.
I do not base my dissent on the existence of exigent circumstances which would permit a deviation from the usual requirements for the search of a dwelling.11 simply *197contend that the requirements of Commonwealth v. DeMichel, 442 Pa. 553, 277 A.2d 159 (1971), were fully complied with in the present case. See also Judge Van der Voort’S dissenting opinion in Commonwealth v. Easton, 231 Pa. Superior Ct. 398, 332 A.2d 448 (1975), in which President Judge Watkins and I joined.
The facts indicate that the police officers arrived at appellant’s apartment complex at approximately 11:00 a.m. with a warrant authorizing a search of the apartment. After the officers talked to the manager, who gave them a key to appellant’s apartment, they proceeded to the apartment, knocked on the door and announced their identity and purpose. When there was no response, they repeated the procedure. Following the second knock and announce, they waited 10 seconds and then entered by use of the key. They observed appellant’s daughter asleep on the living room couch and his wife emerging from one of the bedrooms. The police identified themselves, showed appellant’s wife the search warrant, and then searched the apartment. They found the four stolen flint lock rifles wrapped in a blanket under appellant’s bed.
I believe there are several factors in the present case which indicate the actions of the officers were totally reasonable and correct. The police knocked on the door and announced their identity and purpose twice. Although the record fails to reveal how much time passed between the first knock and the second knock, the police waited 10 seconds after the second knock before entering the apartment. In addition, we are considering the propriety of entry into a four room apartment at 11:00 a.m., not entry into a multi-story house late at night. Even if the occupants had been in that part of the apartment farthest removed from the door, they still had ample time to respond to the police. I cannot believe our Supreme Court *198intended a hard and fast rule as to how much time must pass, after proper knock and announce, before the police may enter. Each case should be decided on its own merits.
I believe the police acted properly and would affirm the judgment of sentence of the lower court.
Watkins, P.J., and Van der Voort, J., join in this dissenting opinion.

. See Commonwealth v. Dial, 445 Pa. 251, 285 A.2d 125 (1971); Commonwealth v. Johnson, 223 Pa. Superior Ct. 83, 289 *197A.2d 733 (1972); Commonwealth v. Fisher, 223 Pa. Superior Ct. 107, 296 A.2d 848 (1972); Commonwealth v. McAleese, 214 Pa. Superior Ct. 228, 252 A.2d 380 (1969).