• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / State Supremes okay vehicle searches

State Supremes okay vehicle searches

July 15, 2010 By Bob Hague

The Wisconsin Supreme Court issues a pair of rulings which allow certain warrantless vehicle searches by police. In one case, Michael Littlejohn was arrested for driving with a revoked license. Officers searched Littlejohn’s locked car and found marijuana and cocaine. A search of the locked trunk revealed more marijuana, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. Based on this evidence, the police obtained a warrant to search Littlejohn’s residence, where they found additional incriminating evidence.

 A similar case involved Michael Dearborn who was arrested by a DNR warden who then found marijuana in Dearborn’s locked vehicle. Both men were handcuffed in squad cars when the searches took place, and the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled such searches are unconstitutional. The state Supreme Court rulings admit that both searches were unconstitutional, but because officers were acting in good faith under the law at the time, the evidence obtained should not be suppressed. Both rulings were 5-2 split decisions with Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson and Justice Ann Walsh Bradley dissenting.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts Tagged With: Wisconsin Supreme Court



Featured Stories

Brewers long ball to capture Cactus League opener

Bucks rally for fifth straight win

Badgers sweep Ohio State, stay in Big Ten title picture

Top-ranked Wisconsin captures second straight WCHA regular season title

Bucks hold off Pelicans for 4th straight win

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Brewers long ball to capture Cactus League opener

Bucks rally for fifth straight win

Badgers sweep Ohio State, stay in Big Ten title picture

Top-ranked Wisconsin captures second straight WCHA regular season title

Bucks hold off Pelicans for 4th straight win

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC