State v. Salinas

The State seeks reversal of a Court of Appeals decision overturning Jose-Luis Salinas's conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver. At issue is whether the unauthorized use of a listening device in connection with an undercover narcotics investigation rendered inadmissible the investigating officer's visual observations. We hold that the use of the device did render the observations inadmissible, and therefore concur with the Court of Appeals that Salinas's conviction must be reversed.

I

On March 1, 1990, Detective Ron Coleman of the Kirkland Police Department arrested Mauro…