State v. Engel

SABERS, Justice.

State appeals order suppressing evidence obtained pursuant to a search warrant for lack of probable cause.

Facts

On June 22, 1989, a man identifying himself as Tom Wilson brought a package which he said contained a “soil sample” to a California United Parcel Service (UPS) office. Because shipments of soil samples are to be inspected under UPS policy and because Wilson seemed nervous, UPS personnel opened the package in the presence of a California police officer, who tested the white substance inside and determined that it was cocaine.

The package was addressed to Ron En-gel of…