United States v. Owens

FARRELL, Associate Judge:

This government appeal concerns an application of the general knock-and-announce statute, D.C.Code § 23-524(a) (2001). A police officer, part of a team executing a search warrant at an apartment, waited forty-five seconds after first identifying his presence before forcibly entering the apartment. The trial court nonetheless suppressed evidence seized during the search because only after thirty seconds of that time had elapsed did the officer announce the authority and purpose for the police being there, ie., the search warrant — -the remaining fifteen seconds being…