Officer Landonio is now on the drug task force. He and three other officers have been assigned to serve a search warrant regarding a stolen 50-inch plasma television set. He serves the search warrant and walks into the residence with the three officers. Sitting on the coffee table is a variety of narcotics, both prescription and illegal. What are his options at this time?
During the search, one officer opens a kitchen cabinet and finds a kilogram of cocaine. Can Officer Landonio take this as evidence and arrest the residents? Why or why not? What would be the next step in this process?
Check the laws in a U.S. state of your choosing and the requirements of arrest warrants. Be sure to use references and citations in your material.
Assignment Guidelines
Address the following in 3–5 pages:
Can Officer Landonio take the cocaine as evidence? Why or why not?
Assuming that the residents of the dwelling are present, what are Officer Landonio’s options upon finding the prescribed and illegal narcotics on the table? Explain.
What actions will he be required to take by law? Explain.
You will need to fabricate the details or at least address multiple possibilities for this case.
How does discretion come into play in this case?
How can nonresidents present in the dwelling be handled? Explain.
With what can they be charged if arrested? Explain.
If the residents are arrested, what are the next steps in the process? Explain.
Can drug courts come into play regarding this case? Why or why not?
Typically, when will drug law offenders be fined, and when will they be incarcerated? Explain.
