State v. Bentz

A police officer entered a private residence without a warrant. After defendant told the officer that there was an outstanding warrant for defendant’s arrest, the officer arrested him. Before verifying that a warrant actually existed, the officer conducted an inventory search of defendant’s person, which resulted in the discovery of methamphetamine in his pocket. The trial court denied defendant’s motion to suppress evidence of the methamphetamine, and a jury convicted defendant of possession of a controlled substance. Former ORS 475.992(4)(b) (2001). Defendant appeals, assigning error to the…