Quote Originally Posted by cstone View Post
In this case, if you lived in Watertown, you would know why the police want to enter your house when they knock on your door. Does that knowledge influence your response to the officers at the door? What if you did not know why the police were at your door? Would that influence your response?

Given what you know right now, if you were in a position of authority and trying to protect innocent citizens in the community, how would you find this criminal? What orders would you give to the officers and agents working for you?

I am not familiar with Massachusetts state law, however, I believe the police would be permitted an exigent search under the current circumstances. Even if the police were not legally permitted to search, it would take a foolish individual to violently resist a tactical entry team, while your wife and children are in the house with you. If the police err in executing searches, the time to fight them is another day in a courtroom.

If you have contraband items in plain view in your house, you have different issues. There are many other ways of dealing with contraband rather than getting into a fire fight with your family in harms way. Sometimes you just have to pick your battles.

Oh, and my default position is, "I do not consent to any search of my person or domicile." Legal or illegal, the search will probably take place and I will deal with the consequences afterward.

Be safe.
What was legal last week may become contraband next week...