Court Opinion

ID: 9730709
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 15:21:18.763617+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:08.764422
License: Public Domain

Bashara, P.J.
(dissenting). I respectfully dissent. The facts, even as set forth in the majority opinion, leave me with the firm conclusion that exigent circumstances existed. The complaining witness and a police officer appeared at the edge of defendant’s property, following snowblower tracks leading from complainant’s property to defendant’s. Once there, clearly with probable cause, the officer proceeded onto defendant’s property where the snowblower, which matched the description given by the complainant, was spotted in plain view in defendant’s garage.
To say that the police officer must retreat and obtain a warrant flies in the face of reason. A snowblower is capable of being easily removed. It *508matched the description and serial numbers given by the complainant. When the defendant indicated that he was going to get his snowblower, logic dictates that had the officer not confiscated the snowblower, it would surely have vanished. I would affirm on that ground alone.
However, the majority is careful to indicate that a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress evidence will not be overturned unless clearly erroneous, citing Grimmitt, supra. At the least, the question is close. In overruling the holding of both the magistrate and the trial court, the majority is giving lip service rather than substance to the long-established rule.
I would affirm the defendant’s conviction.