Can The Police Enter My House, Without A Warrant?

net

Came to my door after a neighbor (apts w/common entry) called re: smell of pot. I live alone and never have company so the pounding scared me, then my dog runs away so I slid out a narrow opening. They tried really hard to get me to slip up, asking me, don't you smell anything? No I have a cold. Well, the smell is concentrated here. I remained silent. Do you have anything because you were reluctant to answer door, you did not open fully and you hesitated to answer. I live alone and have no visitors so YOU scared me, my dog runs away and I was in head phones and had to get un tangled from the guitar. Are you SURE you don't have anything? Nope. We smelled it when you came out. I remained silent. They never asked to come in and I would have said no. They will tell you that you are acting funny, tell you there is something not right with the way you answer the door, etc. DO NOT FALL FOR IT!! Even though I felt like a deer in the lights (and wasted alot of $$ flushing afterward) I did not fall into the word games with them and hope the neighbor that called gets a rash on their ass. I am chronically ill and take some awful medications to stay alive. Was given medically on the west coast but Indiana is a state full of idiots. I would either die of exhaustion from retching or starvation without it and I am a bad guy. But it is fine for someone to get bombed on booze and turn into an ass! Where is the country I used to be proud of and where can I go to have some peace in my last days? Is it a power thing, a quota thing or are we just screwed?

scott b

Yes. There are several reasons that a cop can enter your house without a warrant. For instance if they have reasonable suspicion that a crime is in the process of being committed, or if they believe there is an emergency like some dying, etc.

Kenneth C

No, with exceptions.

If there is a hot pursuit of a criminal and the officer saw the person run into a house and lock the door, the officer has every right to run into the house without a warrant.

If the officer has reason to believe a crime is being committed or about to be committed. The officer sees through a window someone is going to be executed in the house. The officer can break in. The officer smells marijuana emanating from the house. Depending on the kind of drug laws in your state, the officer can enter without a warrant.

From your story, there is not enough cause for an officer to enter without a warrant. You don't have to let them in. HOWEVER, do not fight back. If you deny the police entrance into your house and they force their way in, do not fight. You will get hurt. Just get a lawyer because any evidence found in the house after an improper entry will be dismissed in court. You can also then civilly sue the police department and the police officers for improperly entering your house.

bmays

If they have grounds for suspicion such as the smell of weed, bong in the window, etc. they can enter. Refusing them entry is not acting suspiciously.

They have to be suspicious of something, not just suspicious in general. So any sweating or acting nervous is not grounds to search your house. Make it clear you don't consent to any searches, talk to them on the porch with your door closed.

If i cop enters your house without suspension of something and without your consent, it doesn't matter if they find a key of coke.

MommyofThree

I don't believe that they can. They can ask to come in and if you say no they cannot..unless, it were a case where the criminal is hiding in your home or ran into it during a chase or such...

Shane

1st, no cop can enter your house without a warrant unless you're on probation, or they have proof you're doing something.

Hid the weed, shrooms, lsd. or whatever,

Danny

No they are not allowed in your house without your permission unless they have a warrant. They can check your cars without a warrant though.
So you can basically go up to a cop and say, "I may have marijuana in my house." and they would have to go get a warrant to search or call a cop down to come search your house.

nati.santi

no! that's illegal!

Mateo

I live in Mill Creek Washington. I just had the local police force entry for domestic violence reasons. I live by myself, and there was no reason to enter other than they seem to knocked on the wrong door. I was handcuffed and released once my place was cleared. It was upsetting to say the least!

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