Court Opinion

ID: 9528711
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:43:18.027766+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:14.001184
License: Public Domain

Weaver, J.
(concurring). While I concur in the majority’s affirmance of defendant’s conviction, I do not agree that the trial court clearly erred in denying defendant’s motion to suppress evidence of the seized clothing.
I find persuasive the reasoning of the Washington Supreme Court in State v Smith, 88 Wash 2d 127; 559 P2d 970 (1977), cert den 434 US 876 (1977), which upheld the seizure without a warrant of a hospitalized defendant’s clothing. In this case, as in Smith, the hospital personnel had joint control over the defendant’s clothing and could therefore consent to the seizure of the clothing. I would also find seizure to be lawful under the exception for search and seizure incident to a lawful arrest.