Court Opinion

ID: 9731462
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 15:46:25.624187+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:18.282579
License: Public Domain

STEINMETZ, J.
(concurring). In this case we have not accepted a blanket no-knock rule for the search of commercial drug dealers’ premises. However, that is a strong special circumstance which could be used in determining the reasonableness of the entry. No specific information was given to the court commissioner as reasons for the no-knock entry in this case. Specific information must be provided in order to justify a no-knock search. At least, without stating a complete list, the officers should inform the judge of the volume of drug *635activity, if known; the amount of drugs on the premises, if observed; the nature of the drug observed, i.e., powder, pill; and the manner in which the drug is stored, if known, i.e., whether it is prewrapped or packaged at the time of sale. Additionally, a basic description of the premises should be included, which in this case would have specified whether there was running water in the cabin and where it was located, i.e., in the room where the drugs were stored or sold, if known, and where the windows available for disposing of the drugs were located along with the nature of the windows, i.e., covered by screens or storm windows, if known.
In other words, some specific information should be given to the judge or should be known by the police in order to make the unannounced entry reasonable under the circumstances. In order for that finding to be made, the circumstances must be known.
I am authorized to state that Justices LOUIS J. CECI and WILLIAM A. BABLITCH join in this concurring opinion.