Paulino v. State

This case requires us to consider whether a search conducted incident to an arrest is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment in light of the manner and place in which the search was conducted at a time when there were no exigent circumstances justifying the immediate search. We conclude that, under the circumstances of this case, the search of petitioner was unreasonable. Accordingly, we shall reverse the judgment of the Court of Special Appeals.

I

Factual and Procedural Background

On September 29, 2000 Detective Elliot Latchaw, and other members of the Baltimore County Police Department received…