Wilson v. Arkansas

514 U.S. 927 (1995)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

A police informant purchased illegal drugs from Wilson (D) at the home D shared with Jacobs. Using this information, police properly obtained warrants to search D's home and to arrest D and Jacobs. Police stated that Jacobs had previously been convicted of arson and firebombing. In executing the warrant, police found the main door to D's home open and the screen door unlocked. They entered the residence, identified themselves as police officers and stated that they had a warrant. D was found in the bathroom, flushing marijuana down the toilet. Before trial, D filed a motion to suppress the evidence for an invalid search including grounds that the officers had failed to 'knock and announce' before entering her home. The trial court denied the motion, and D was convicted. The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed the conviction on appeal. The court noted that “the officers entered the home while they were identifying themselves,” but it rejected D's argument that “the Fourth Amendment requires officers to knock and announce prior to entering the residence.” The Supreme Court granted certiorari.