Criminal justice capstone
Scenario Part 1
On March 12, 2014, at approximately 2200 hours, the Sunnyville, Utah Police Department received a 911 call of an armed robbery at 201 SE 2nd Ave. Upon the police arriving on scene, Victim 1, Luke Roberts, had been shot in the head and deceased. Victim 2, Liam O’Neil, was pistol-whipped. Both victims were robbed of their cell phones and wallets at gunpoint. Liam O’Neil was able to identify both suspects and the getaway vehicle. A short distance away, police stopped the suspect vehicle with two Caucasian males that matched the description provided by Mr. O’Neil. After the two suspects were positively identified, they were arrested and brought to the police station for interviews.
Before the police interviewed the suspects, they read them their Miranda rights. Suspect 1 refused to speak to the police, invoked his Miranda rights, and stated that he wanted a lawyer. The police began asking Suspect 2 specific questions about the crime. Suspect 2 stated “I’m not sure I should talk to you,” but then hesitantly proceeded to answers questions, making several incriminating statements.
Scenario Part 2
The police conducted a second interview. As Suspect 2, Keith Hopkins, waited for the detective to speak to him again, he appeared to be deleting messages from his phone. As the second interview began, Hopkins admitted to hiding the stolen property from both victims inside his residence located at 1106 SE 9th Ave. He stated that the victim’s property was hidden in a laundry basket in his bedroom. He also stated that Suspect 1, Steve Chapman, hid the gun used in the robbery in the attic of his house under the insulation. You suspected that there may also be additional evidence in the house, but Keith Hopkins will no longer provide you with any information. The police asked Mr. Hopkins for consent to search his residence, but he immediately remembered an episode of his favorite police show and refused to give you permission to search his house for the evidence.
As the lead detective, you have decided to secure the residence, and you proceed with a search warrant. Using fictional details of your own choice, draft an affidavit and search warrant.
Download an Affidavit form. (Utah Courts, 2010)
Download a Search Warrant report form. (Utah Courts, 2010)
Include a detailed description of the residence, items to be seized, and an affidavit of probable cause to search the house.
After you execute the search warrant, you recover the victim’s property inside the residence.
Answer the following:
Describe the next steps.
Explain how you would process the evidence. Include mention of documentation that you will need for the execution of the warrant.
