United States v. George R. Chuke

CELEBREZZE, Circuit Judge.

In this appeal we are asked to decide whether the failure of law enforcement officers to exploit a perceived opportunity to obtain a search warrant, given concededly sufficient probable cause, vitiates a subsequent search without a warrant of a vehicle prompted by exigent circumstances. George R. Chuke (Chuke) appeals from the denial by the District Court of his pre-trial motion to suppress a gun recovered during the warrantless search of his ' car. He stands convicted, after a jury trial, of possessing a firearm in interstate commerce, as a previously convicted…