Michael Montanez v. Jorge Carvajal

NEWSOM, Circuit Judge:

*1205 Police officers interrupt what they reasonably believe to be a residential burglary and detain two suspects just outside the house. Having done so, can the officers thereafter lawfully enter the home-without a warrant, and without further suspicion of wrongdoing-to briefly search for additional perpetrators and potential victims? We hold that they can. In particular, we hold that the suspected burglary presents an "exigent circumstance" that justifies a warrantless entry and search.

I

On a springtime afternoon in 2011, Officer Todd Raible of the Volusia (Florida) County…