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OH2: Strong chemical odor on knock-and-talk was exigency

By John Wesley Hall, Jr.

When defendant opened his door after a knock-and-talk, the officers smelled the strong chemical odor of a meth lab, and that justified their entry on exigent circumstances. State v. Parson, 2010 Ohio 989, 2010 Ohio App. LEXIS 800 (2d Dist. March 12, 2010).* The search warrant for evidence of the “drug trade” was not overbroad. State v. Ruscoe, 119 Conn. App. 834, 2010 Conn. App. LEXIS 95 (March 16, 2010).* Defendant’s stop on the street was unjustified. “Detective Woyma testified that the police suspected Williams and the two persons he was with of drug activity because they were ‘huddled’ together near a corner known for drug activity and tried to walk away when the police arrived. Neither fact justifies an investigatory stop...continue to full post

Full post as published by Fourth Amendment on March 18, 2010 (boomark / email).