Brown v. State

This case turns on the validity of the warrantless arrest of appellant Gregory Brown, who was a motel guest in Fort Lauderdale. Because the motel manager did not comply with the statute authorizing the immediate termination of Brown’s guest privileges, the police were without authority to arrest Brown when he remained in the motel room. As a result, the fruits of the search incident to the arrest should have been suppressed consistent with Brown’s pretrial motion.

On October 26, 2002, Officers Waters, Dodson, and Santo of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department responded to the Travel Lodge…