United States v. Meidel, No. 13-3251 (8th Cir. 2014)
Annotate this CaseDefendant appealed the district court's denial of his motion to suppress evidence of a firearm found on his person at the time of arrest after defendant pled guilty to being a felon in possession. Defendant, a convicted felon, was in possession of what looked like a gun and defendant's demeanor changed as soon he was asked about the gun. The court concluded that, under the totality of the circumstances, it was reasonable for law enforcement officers to believe defendant posed a danger to himself and others and that he could be neutralized by entering the premises to secure both defendant and the gun. Therefore, the district court did not err in finding exigent circumstances justified the officers' warrantless entry onto defendant's property.
Court Description: Criminal case - Criminal law. Under the totality of the circumstances, it was reasonable for the arresting officers to believe that defendant posed a threat to them and others which could only be neutralized by entering his premises to secure him and his firearm; as a result the officers' warrantless entry on defendant's property was justified by exigent circumstances.
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