Court Opinion

ID: 9788315
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 00:40:23.064242+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:07.900137
License: Public Domain

Chief Judge SCHWARTZMAN,
Specially Concurring.
I concur in the result reached in this case, but also wish to voice a note of caution and constitutional concern that use of such terminology as “exigent circumstances” and “domestic violence” does not, in my view, give police carte blanche to conduct a general *18exploratory search or protective sweep of the premises under the facts and circumstances outlined herein. The police had reasonable grounds to lawfully detain and further question the alleged “victim” [now defendant], on the rational suspicion that she might well be connected with a domestic altercation or violence of some kind. Whether this investigation should continue on the threshold of Wiedenheft’s premises or inside her front door, she could not peremptorily slam the door in the officers’ faces and expect them to fade gently into that good night. On the other hand, given the relatively nonegregious factual scenario facing the officers, coupled with the lateness of the hour, a completely darkened house, no prior history of domestic violence at this location (as far as the record shows) and the “victim’s” protestation of no problems, I would uphold only the most limited intrusion necessary to dispel the officers’ concerns. In my view this would NOT include trooping through every room in the household and rousting everyone present into the front room to conduct a full-scale inquiry at 2:40 a.m. in the absence of more compelling circumstances.
One further point should be mentioned. It seems somewhat ironic that the supposed “victim” of this domestic call is the one who gets hauled out of her home in the wee hour of the morning, cuffed, arrested and charged with a crime. The record herein does not indicate whether anyone else was ever arrested or charged with this suspected domestic abuse. Perhaps a little diplomacy and restraint would have better served to cool down this emotionally charged situation, and still fulfill the Boise Police motto of “to protect and to serve.”