United States v. Murray, No. 15-2054 (3d Cir. 2016)
Annotate this CaseThe Sunrise Motel's owner told Bensalem Township police that he had seen a woman he believed to be a prostitute being picked up by a green Cadillac. Later that day, a “tip” was called in, that a man at the nearby Knights Inn, driving a green Cadillac, was in possession of drugs. That evening, officers observed a green Cadillac outside the nearby Neshaminy Inn and learned that it was registered to Murray in Room 302. The officers knew that Murray had rented rooms at the Knights Inn, paying cash. Officers knocked at Room 302. A woman wearing lingerie (Burns) answered the door, and asked if the officer was “looking for a date.” The officers then proceeded to the Knights Inn, where they saw the Cadillac in front of Room 158, a woman leaving Room 158, and Murray inside the room. Later, at the Neshaminy Inn, Burns admitted the officers and stated that she was a prostitute and that a drug dealer that provided her with drugs. She later testified that she had made the “tip” call because she felt she was in danger. Murray arrived; officers patted him down and found large amounts of cash and hotel keys. Murray attempted to flee. With warrants, the officers found 192 grams of crack cocaine at the Knights Inn. Murray entered a guilty plea, preserving his right to appeal the denial of his motion to suppress. The Third Circuit affirmed; the officers did not violate the Fourth Amendment when they entered the room or when they frisked Murray.,
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