State v. Shelly

Petrich, J.

— Belinda Sue Shelly and Keith Neer appeal their convictions on stipulated facts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, claiming that critical evidence seized in their apartment should have been suppressed. The basis of Shelly's motion to suppress concurred in by Neer was the violation of the "knock and announce rule," which implements the guaranties of the Fourth Amendment and is codified at RCW 10.31.040, when police entered defendants' apartment. We affirm the trial court's decision.

On May 13, 1988, Officers Cowan, Hamilton, Thompson, and Davis served a search warrant on defendants Neer and Shelly. The officers wore either full police uniforms, or jackets with police markings on the front that identified them as police officers, when they served the warrant. Officer Thompson knocked two or three times on the defendants' front door. Defendant Shelly opened the door 2 feet, then looked startled and "jumped back."

Officer Thompson announced "Kelso Police, search warrant." The officers waited a few seconds after they identified themselves, then walked into the defendants' apartment. Defendant Shelly did not give the officers permission to enter the apartment. The police found several bags of marijuana in the home.

The trial court concluded that the police complied with the knock and announce rule, pointing out that: the officers knocked on the door; defendant Shelly responded to the knock and opened the door; and the officers were in uniform, identified themselves, and told her that they had a search warrant.

RCW 10.31.040 codifies the "knock and announce" rule. The statute provides that "[t]o make an arrest in criminal actions, the officer may break open any outer or inner door, or windows of a dwelling house or other building, or any other inclosure, if, after notice of his office and purpose, he be refused admittance." Defendants contend that the police officers violated the "knock and announce" rule, because they did not give defendant Shelly an opportunity to grant or deny them admittance to the defendants' apartment. We disagree.

The purposes of the knock and announce rule are to (1) reduce the potential for violence, to both occupants and police, arising from an unannounced entry; (2) prevent unnecessary property damage; and (3) protect an occupant's right to privacy. State v. Coyle, 95 Wn.2d 1, 5, 621 P.2d 1256 (1980). Although the statute specifically refers to an entry "to make an arrest," the knock and announce rule also applies when police officers execute a search warrant. State v. Myers, 102 Wn.2d 548, 552, 689 P.2d 38 (1984). Further, the rule applies not only when force is used to gain entry, but whenever the police enter without the valid permission of an occupant. State v. Myers, supra.

The rule, however, cannot be applied rigidly, or it will become an empty formality. State v. Young, 76 Wn.2d 212, 215, 455 P.2d 595 (1969). The conditions that the rule imposes are part of a criterion of reasonableness and are subject to certain recognized exceptions. State v. Young, 76 Wn.2d at 215. The court will not demand strict compliance with the requirements of the rule if such compliance would be a "useless gesture." State v. Coyle, 95 Wn.2d at 6, 11. The "useless gesture" exception applies when it is evident from the circumstances of the case that the authority and the purpose of the police are already known to those within the premises. State v. Coyle, 95 Wn.2d at 11. The police must demonstrate "virtual certainty" that the occupants of the premises are aware of the officers' presence, identity, and purpose. State v. Coyle, supra.

The facts of this case clearly show that defendant Shelly was aware of the police officers' presence, identity, and purpose when she opened the door. After defendant Shelly opened the door, observed the uniformed police, and heard them identify themselves and their purpose, any grant or denial of entrance by Shelly was irrelevant. At that point, the police, armed with a valid search warrant, could enter the premises, whether Shelly granted or denied them permission. State v. Lehman, 40 Wn. App. 400, 404, 698 P.2d 606, review denied, 104 Wn.2d 1009 (1985). Strict compliance with the knock and announce rule, thus, would have been a useless gesture.

In Lehman, police knocked on defendants' door and, when one of the defendants opened the door, they identified themselves and stated that they had a search warrant. While speaking with the defendant at the door, police observed two men sitting in defendants' living room. The officers then entered the defendants' home without permission. The Lehman court held that the officers sufficiently complied with the knock and announce rule because "[t]o wait for a grant or denial of admission . . . would serve no purpose." State v. Lehman, 40 Wn. App. at 404.

The reasoning of the Lehman court entirely supports the trial court's decision that the police officers in this case did not violate the knock and announce rule when they entered defendants' home without permission.

Affirmed.

Worswick, J., concurs.