North Dakota v. Laverdure
Annotate this CaseDavid Laverdure appealed a criminal judgment entered upon a conditional guilty plea to possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. Relying on information from a concerned citizen and a “source of information” about short term traffic and potential heroin distribution, a Fargo detective took part in a garbage search at Laverdure’s residence on July 11, 2017. The searched garbage cans had been placed on the street in front of the residence in a City of Fargo container for the residence’s usual garbage pickup day. The garbage contained two sealed grocery bags and a sealed trash bag. A search of the bags revealed a broken glass pipe with methamphetamine residue, a small clear bag containing white powdery residue, and four used hypodermic syringes. the detective applied for a search warrant for Laverdure’s residence. In his application and affidavit in support of the search warrant, the detective described the two tips he received and the results of the garbage search. The affidavit did not state if anyone had observed the garbage container being placed on the street. The affidavit also did not state if the garbage contained mail or other items connecting it to Laverdure or the residence. The magistrate issued the search warrant. While executing the warrant, narcotics and related paraphernalia were found. Laverdure was arrested. The district court denied the suppression motion, finding sufficient probable cause existed for the search warrant. The North Dakota Supreme Court found no reversible error in the district court's denial of Laverdure's suppression motion and affirmed.
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