Chimel

Rivera, Alexis 10/24/10

Sciacca Case Summary

Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752 (1969)

On September 13, 1965, three police officers arrived to Ted Chimel's home in Santa Ana, California with a warrant for his arrest. The arrest warrant was issued for the burglary of a coin shop. Upon the arrival at Ted Chimel’s home the officers proceeded to knock on the door, identified themselves as police officers to Chimel's wife, and asked for permission to enter the home. Chimel's wife granted them permission and allowed the offices into her home, where they waited for Chimel to return from work. When Chimel arrived home, the officers handed him the arrest warrant and asked to take a look around the home. Chimel objected to the search however; the police officers told him that, "on the basis of the lawful arrest," the officers would conduct a search over his objections. The officers proceeded to have Chimel's wife escort them through the home. The officers conducted a search of the attic, garage, and a small workshop. The offices also proceeded to have Chimel's wife open drawers to conduct a more thorough search. The officers then seized several items from the home, predominantly coins, medals, and tokens, and other objects. The entire search lasted approximately one hour. However these officer never obtained a search warrant.

Although Chimel did not grant the officers permission to look around without a search warrant the evidence seized from his home was still admitted into court. Ted Chimel was brought up on 2 charges of burglary. His conviction was affirmed by the California appellate courts, even with Chimel's plea that the evidence seized from his home was unconstitutional and violated his 4th amendment right. However the court ruled that the officers had acquired the warrant "in good faith," and that the search was justified as “incident to a valid arrest.” It was argued that it would have been impractical for the police to drive all the way...