Question for a essay - Milwaukee police with a arrest warrent…

Hello.

It really depends on where the drugs were found.

Because the officers were executing an arrest warrant and it was likely the person to be arrested was located in the home, the officers made a valid entry into the house. Once in the location, if the officers reasonably believe there is a threat to their safety, the officers can conduct what is called a "protective sweep" of the residence. Since the warrant was for a person who committed a violent crime while armed and there were numerous people in the residence, a protective sweep of the residence would likely be valid. A protective sweep allows the officers to search in any place that a person could reasonably hide. So, if the officers observed the contraband sitting in plain view while conducting the protective sweep, or found it in an area where a person could hide (like a closet), then the suppression motion should be denied. If they found the contraband in a place where a person could not hide, like a drawer, it might be suppressed. Also, pursuant to a lawful arrest of the individual for whom the warrant was for, the officers could search the "reach, lunge, or grab area" of that individual...meaning any place that the person being arrested could reach into upon arrest (even if a person couldn't hide there). So if the person was arrested on the couch, the officers could lawfully search under the couch and anything that is found there would not be suppressed.

Thus, the question would ultimately turn on where the drugs were found to determine whether the contraband should be suppressed or not.