State v. Coyle

Defendant appeals his conviction for possession of a controlled substance, marijuana. He contends the trial court erred in refusing to suppress the marijuana because the officers who arrested him allegedly violated RCW 10.31.040, the knock and wait statute. We find no error.

Shortly before midnight on August 12, 1978, Officer Hiram Thomas of the East Wenatchee Police Department responded to a prowler call at the Eddy Mays Inn. While at the Inn, he noticed the odor of marijuana outside room 119 and observed three people leaving the room. Because he suspected that a party was taking place…