State of Arizona v. Bradley Harold Wilson

Chief Justice BALES,

opinion of the Court.

¶ 1 The Fourth Amendment generally requires police to obtain a warrant to search a home. Courts have recognized exceptions to this requirement, such as the exigent circumstances and emergency aid exceptions. The State here urges us to extend the community caretaking exception, which applies to certain vehicle searches, to justify the warrantless search of a home. We decline to do so.

I

¶ 2 Police officers and paramedics went to Bradley Wilson’s residence after neighbors complained about his erratic behavior. Wilson said that he had “up to seven pounds of…