Unauthorized out-of-court disclosures of private marital communications may not be used in a proceeding to obtain a search warrant. Muetze v. State, 73 Wis. 2d 117, 243 N.W.2d 393 (1976).
A search warrant designating an entire farmhouse occupied by the accused and “other persons unknown” was not invalid despite the multiple occupancy. State v. Suits, 73 Wis. 2d 352, 243 N.W.2d 206 (1976).
A warrant authorizing the search of the “entire first-floor premises” encompassed a balcony room that was part and parcel of the first floor. Rainey v. State, 74 Wis. 2d 189, 246 N.W.2d 529 (1976).
A search warrant obtained on an affidavit containing misrepresentations by a police officer as to the reliability of an unnamed informant is invalid. When the search is conducted within a reasonable time following an arrest based on probable cause, the search will be sustained even though it was conducted in execution of an invalid warrant. Schmidt v. State, 77 Wis. 2d 370, 253 N.W.2d 204 (1977).
Affidavits for search warrants need not be drafted with technical specificity nor demonstrate the quantum of probable cause required in a preliminary examination. The usual inferences that reasonable persons draw from evidence are permissible, and doubtful or marginal cases should be resolved by the preference to be accorded to warrants. State v. Starke, 81 Wis. 2d 399, 260 N.W.2d 739 (1978).
Probable cause for arrest, standing alone, does not justify taking a blood sample for a blood test without first obtaining a search warrant. To be admissible, the blood test must have been required by the exigencies of the situation, and the sample must have been drawn in a reasonable manner. State v. Bentley, 92 Wis. 2d 860, 286 N.W.2d 153 (Ct. App. 1979). See also State v. Kennedy, 2014 WI 132, 359 Wis. 2d 454, 856 N.W.2d 834, 12-0523.
A defect in a portion of a search warrant did not invalidate the entire search warrant. State v. Noll, 116 Wis. 2d 443, 343 N.W.2d 391 (1984).
A “no knock” warrant to search a drug dealer’s house was invalid because of a lack of specific information to indicate the evidence would be destroyed otherwise. State v. Cleveland, 118 Wis. 2d 615, 348 N.W.2d 512 (1984).
At a Franks, 438 U.S. 154 (1978), hearing challenging the veracity of a statement supporting a search warrant, the defendant must prove that a falsehood was intentional or with reckless disregard for truth and that the false statement was necessary to finding probable cause. State v. Anderson, 138 Wis. 2d 451, 406 N.W.2d 398 (1987).
Under the independent source doctrine, the court examines whether an agent would have sought a warrant had it not been for an illegal entry and if information obtained during the entry affected the decision to issue the warrant. State v. Lange, 158 Wis. 2d 609, 463 N.W.2d 390 (Ct. App. 1990).
A status check of a driver’s license arising out of police exercise of the community care-taker function is not a stop and does not require reasonable suspicion of a crime. State v. Ellenbecker, 159 Wis. 2d 91, 464 N.W.2d 427 (Ct. App. 1990).
Seizure of a package delivered to a third party for limited investigative detention requires reasonable suspicion, not probable cause. State v. Gordon, 159 Wis. 2d 335, 464 N.W.2d 91 (Ct. App. 1990).
An evidentiary search of a person not named in a search warrant but present during the search of a residence reasonably suspected of being a drug house was reasonable. State v. Jeter, 160 Wis. 2d 333, 466 N.W.2d 211 (Ct. App. 1991).
A probable cause determination in the face of a staleness challenge depends upon the nature of the underlying circumstances, whether the activity is of a protracted or continuous nature, the nature of the criminal activity under investigation, and the nature of what is being sought. State v. Ehnert, 160 Wis. 2d 464, 466 N.W.2d 237 (Ct. App. 1991).
A warrant for the seizure of film authorized the seizure, removal, and development of the undeveloped film. State v. Petrone, 161 Wis. 2d 530, 468 N.W.2d 676 (1991).
Knowledge that a dealer operating an ongoing drug business was armed in the dealer’s residence satisfied the requirements for a “no knock” search warrant. A reasonable belief that the weapon will be used need not be shown. State v. Watkinson, 161 Wis. 2d 750, 468 N.W.2d 763 (Ct. App. 1991). See also State v. Williams, 168 Wis. 2d 970, 485 N.W.2d 42 (1992).
A warrantless search of an apartment for evidence of occupancy when the police reasonably believed that the tenant had vacated and the occupants were not legitimately on the premises was not unreasonable. The defendant had no reasonable expectation of privacy in the apartment or in property kept there. State v. Whitrock, 161 Wis. 2d 960, 468 N.W.2d 696 (1991).
An informant need not have a “track record” established with the police if the totality of the circumstances indicate probable cause for a search exists. State v. Hanson, 163 Wis. 2d 420, 471 N.W.2d 301 (Ct. App. 1991).
The severability rule under Noll, 116 Wis. 2d 443 (1984), applies when the description of the premises to be searched is overly broad. State v. Marten, 165 Wis. 2d 70, 477 N.W.2d 304 (Ct. App. 1991).
If old information contributes to an inference that probable cause exists at the time of the application for a warrant, its age is no taint. State v. Moley, 171 Wis. 2d 207, 490 N.W.2d 764 (Ct. App. 1992).
Police serving a warrant are not required to ring a doorbell before forcing entry. State v. Greene, 172 Wis. 2d 43, 492 N.W.2d 181 (Ct. App. 1992).
Use of a ruse to gain entry in the execution of a warrant when “no-knock” was not authorized did not violate the announcement rule. Special authorization is not required for the use of a ruse. State v. Moss, 172 Wis. 2d 110, 492 N.W.2d 627 (1992).
Failure to comply with the announcement rule was allowable when officers reasonably believed further announcement was futile. State v. Berry, 174 Wis. 2d 28, 496 N.W.2d 746 (Ct. App. 1993).
Compliance with the announcement rule must be determined at the time of execution. While advance request for “no-knock” authority is preferable if police at the time of execution have grounds, failure to seek authorization is not fatal. State v. Kerr, 174 Wis. 2d 55, 496 N.W.2d 742 (Ct. App. 1993).
The incorrect identification of a building’s address in the warrant did not render the resulting search unreasonable when the search made was of the building identified by the informant, which was otherwise correctly identified in the warrant. State v. Nicholson, 174 Wis. 2d 542, 497 N.W.2d 791 (Ct. App. 1993).
A federal magistrate’s decision at a 4th amendment suppression hearing was not binding on a state trial court when the state was not a party nor in privity with a party to the federal action and the federal case did not review errors in the proceeding. State v. Mechtel, 176 Wis. 2d 87, 499 N.W.2d 662 (1993).
An investigatory stop of an automobile based solely on the fact that the vehicle bore “license applied for” plates, and the reasonable inferences that could be drawn therefrom, was justified by reasonable suspicion. State v. Griffin, 183 Wis. 2d 327, 515 N.W.2d 535 (Ct. App. 1994).
For a violation of the requirement that a warrant be issued by a neutral and detached magistrate, actual bias and not the appearance of bias must be shown. State v. McBride, 187 Wis. 2d 409, 523 N.W.2d 106 (Ct. App. 1994).
An “anticipatory warrant,” issued before the necessary events have occurred that will allow a constitutional search, is subject to the same probable cause determination as a conventional search warrant. State v. Falbo, 190 Wis. 2d 328, 526 N.W.2d 814 (Ct. App. 1994).