People v. Johnson

Opinion

FAINER, P. J.

The People appeal from the order of the trial court granting defendant’s motion to suppress evidence, contending, among other things, that the warrantless search of a suitcase in defendant’s motel room did not violate his Fourth Amendment rights. We agree and reverse.

Two police officers, in uniform, had gone to defendant’s motel room to investigate a citizen’s complaint that the defendant and a companion had refused to pay a taxicab fare. The officers had neither a search warrant nor an arrest warrant. One of the officers knocked on the door of defendant’s motel room, and…