People v. Litchfield

We granted certiorari to review the court of appeals decision in People v. Litchfield, 902 P.2d 921 (Colo.App.1995), reversing the district court’s denial of the defendants’ mo*1101tion to suppress evidence seized during a search of their rental ear. The court of appeals held that the search was justified neither as a protective search nor as an inventory search under section 42-5-107, 17 C.R.S. (1995 Supp.). Although we employ different reasoning, we agree with the court of appeals that the search of the trunk of the defendants’ car was unlawful. We therefore affirm and return the case to the…