Chadwick V United States

2 Pages 442 Words

Citatation: 433 U.S. 1 (1977)
Parties: Chadwick, appellant/ United States, appellee
Issues:
1. Whether a search warrant is required before federal agents may open a locked footlocker which they have lawfully seized at the time of the arrest of the owner, when there is probable cause that the footlocker is filled with contraband
2. Whether a warantless search, under the circumstances of the case, was unreasonable
3. Whether such luggage is viewed as analogous to motor vehicles for fourth amendment purposes.
4. Whether the constitution permits the warrantless search of any property in the possession of a person arrested in public, so long as there is probable cause to believe that the property contains contraband or evidence of crime.
Facts:
Upon boarding a train in San Diego heading for Boston with a suspicious brown footlocker, Leary and Machado were identified as possible drug traffickers by train personal. Agents were notified in Boston and upon arrival after placing the footlocker in Chadwick waiting car arrest were made. The three along with the trunk were transported to Federal Building in Boston and an hour and a half after arrests were made; the footlocker was opened without consent or search warrant. Large amounts of marihuana were found in the footlocker and the respondents were indicted for possession with the intent to distribute. Before the trial, they moved to suppress the marihuana obtained from the footlocker.

Prior Proceedings:
The District Court granted the pretrial motion to suppress the marihuana obtained from the footlocker holding that warentless searches are per se unreasonable under the fourth amendment and that the footlocker search was not justified under the automobile exception or as a search incident to a lawful arrest.

Holdings:
Rationales:
1. A fundamental purpose of the fourth amendment is to safeguard individuals from unreasonable government invasions and not simply those interes...