Commonwealth v. Mazzella

Opinion by

Jacobs, J.,

The law involving forcible entry by police into private premises for the purpose of conducting a search requires, in the absence of exigent circumstances, first, that an announcement by the officers of their identity and purpose must precede the entry, Commonwealth v. Newman, 429 Pa. 441, 240 A.2d 795 (1968); Commonwealth v. Cerulla, 223 Pa. Superior Ct. 24, 296 A.2d 858 (1972); and second, that subsequent to the announcement, an occupant of the premises must be given a reasonable period of time within which to voluntarily surrender his privacy. Commonwealth v. DeMichel,…