Particularly execution

Question 1

Maryland v Garrision

Answer 1

Facts
Baltimore police officers obtained a warrant to search Lawrence McWebb and “the premises known as 2036 Park Avenue third floor apartment” for illegal drugs. At the time the warrant was obtained and executed, the officers believed there was only one apartment on the third floor. However, the third floor contained two separate apartments, one occupied by McWebb and the other by respondent Garrison. The police discovered contraband in Garrison’s apartment before realizing they were in a different apartment than the one they believed to be McWebb’s. This discovery led to Garrison’s conviction under Maryland’s Controlled Substances Act.

Issue
The issue presented is whether the seizure of contraband from Garrison’s apartment violated the Fourth Amendment, given the officers’ mistake in believing there was only one apartment on the third floor when the warrant was issued and executed.

Holding
The Supreme Court held that the seizure of contraband from Garrison’s apartment did not violate the Fourth Amendment, despite the officers’ mistake about the number of apartments on the third floor.