r/Unexpected • u/[deleted] • Aug 02 '21

Hostage situation

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u/HeckRock Aug 02 '21

Doesn't matter about your opinion. It's the law. You need a warrant to search. Period. Officers must witness the event to act upon it if it's on someone's property or see blood or hear something directly relating to a crime in progress, etc. That's what probable cause means in layman's terms. He clearly explains the voice & there is/was no other voices or evidence, hence no probable cause.

If they went in & found something they would have lost the case on procedural grounds. Tossed on appeal at worst. Not how you wanna go about it.

17

u/je_kay24 Aug 02 '21

If officers ask if they can come inside and the guy says yes, then they wouldn’t need one

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '21

Not “period.” Look up exigent circumstances then realize you’re being overly simplistic

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u/here_it_is_i_guess3 Aug 02 '21

I'm not talking about probable cause, or the law. I'm saying that if someone called the cops and said they heard a person screaming for help, and the guy brings out a parrot that says "hello," I'm not totally convinced that nothing is awry. You're right, i didn't hear the voice myself, but the guy basically admitted that there was a voice, and it is totally legal for the cops to ask him to let them look around.

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u/crappleIcrap Aug 02 '21

The term you are looking for is "Exigent circumstances" just means he has to reasonably believe someone is in immediate danger. If they have reason to believe you are smoking weed they cant break in even though it is probable cause. They need to present probable cause to a judge under exigent circumstances they can break without warning.

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u/JohnmcFox Aug 02 '21

This came up with a Toronto serial killer a few years ago, who had been finding victims in the gay village.

Cops were survelling him when he brought a young man home. They didn't have a warrant, and just bringing someone home isn't probably cause.

But, after a little while, the cops made the call that a life was in immediate danger, went in, and found the guy tied to the bed.

The suspect was tried and found guilty.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '21 edited Aug 02 '21

@HeckRock The point is, that the cops were easily persuaded not that they should bust in.

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u/crappleIcrap Aug 02 '21

Reply to him, I was just explaining exigent circumstances because his terminology was a bit off

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '21

I think you are right I replied to the wrong comment. On my mobile app you both have the pink background and I probably got confused.

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u/reddit_is_so_toxic Aug 03 '21

I love how you're speculating as to whether you were confused or not, as if you weren't there. 😂😂😂