Smith v. Whitehead

NEWMAN, Chief Judge:

Appellants are police officers who, while engaged with other officers in a valid search of appellees’ apartment for evidence of narcotics possession and dispensation, *342also participated in the seizure of several items of consumer goods from the apartment. The property was turned over to the District Property Clerk, who refused to return it to appellees. This action for conversion against the appellant officers followed. A jury found appellants liable to appellees for compensatory and punitive damages of $2,700.

Appellants contend that the seizure of the goods was lawful, and…