State v. Martin

The state appeals a pretrial order suppressing evidence seized from defendants’ garage, residence and vehicles. We affirm.

A fire broke out in an unattached garage located 20 feet from defendants’ residence. While the firefighters worked to put out the fire, police controlled traffic and onlookers. After about 10 minutes, the fire was “knocked down” and unable to spread. Captain Hoehn of the Cottage Grove Fire Department entered the garage to determine the point of origin of the fire. At the back of the garage was a plywood wall, part of which had been burned through. On the other side of the…