Ricks v. State

GILBERT, Chief Judge.

The major issue in this appeal is whether the police may employ surreptitious non-consensual video surveillance in tracking suspected criminal activity. Three minor issues are also presented, but they are eclipsed by the magnitude of the video surveillance question.

This case stems from an extensive narcotics investigation by the Baltimore City Police Department and the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Utilization of pen registers, physical surveillance, and “wiretap” orders disclosed a suspected organization involved in violations of controlled dangerous…