Reference no: EM133855905

Scenario: It is 1:00 a.m., and you are the senior East Arbor Police Department (EAPD) police officer on duty. The EAPD Dispatch Clerk is Pattie, and she has advised you that two independent and anonymous "911" (emergency contact number) callers, who she referred to herein as "Anonymous Male, Caller One" and "Anonymous Female, Caller Two," each reported that around 12:30 a.m., they heard gunshots coming from a home on 1967 Penny Lane, after a heated argument involving several men.

Dispatch Clerk Pattie said that "Anonymous Male, Caller One" advised Pattie that he was asleep in the basement of the house at 1967 Penny Lane, a property owned and occupied by his landlord, Omar Littleton. "Anonymous Male, Caller One" said he woke up when he heard an apparent argument upstairs from the basement. Asked by Pattie to be specific, "Anonymous Male, Caller One" said he heard two men threaten to kill Omar if Omar did not provide the "stuff" they "paid for." "Anonymous Male, Caller One" said he then heard four gunshots, followed by the sound of a thud, like someone crashing to the floor. "Anonymous Male, Caller One" said that he heard the steps of at least two people running out of the house and exiting via an aluminum side door. "Anonymous Male, Caller One" said he was afraid and still hiding in the basement, and he ended the call.

Dispatch Clerk Pattie briefed you about the call from "Anonymous Female, Caller Two." Pattie said that "Anonymous Female, Caller Two" refused to tell where she was calling from or exactly where she lived, but she did say that she lived in the same neighborhood as a house on 1967 Penny Lane. "Anonymous Female, Caller Two" said she heard a heated argument, followed by three or four gunshots, and then she saw two white males, each about 24 or 25 years old, rush out of the house and disappear into the night. "Anonymous Female, Caller Two" provided no further information and then ended the call.

Based on your considerable law enforcement experience, you are aware that the area around 1967 Penny Lane is a high-crime and drug gang area, and a multi-agency drug crimes task force has been investigating an influx of blue methamphetamine. Therefore, you have called for a team of detectives and other officers to meet you at the scene.

You are to write a short answer in response to each of the following work problems (arranging your answers in the SAME ORDER as the work problems*):

1. Based on the facts of the Scenario above, advise if you are required to obtain a search warrant before entering the house at 1967 Penny Lane, or if you do not need a search warrant, explain why.

2. Describe some supplies and equipment (but not weapons) that you and other personnel will need to conduct a search and collect evidence. 

3. Advise how search personnel should safely handle and collect these two types of evidence: 1) firearms, and 2) items of clothing with suspected wet blood and other fluids.

4. Regarding any evidence seized, explain: 1) how investigators can maintain proper chain of custody of the evidence, and 2) why maintaining proper chain of custody of the evidence is so important.