Love v. State

In Love v. State, 290 Ga. App. 486 (659 SE2d 835) (2008), the Court determined that a trial court properly denied a motion to suppress marijuana found in a home because the officers had a reasonable belief that an emergency existed that might require their attention. See 290 Ga. App. at 486-489. The officers answered an emergency call in which neighbors of the defendants explained that the front door to the defendants' home was wide open, even though it was a cold, dark evening, and the defendants appeared to be away from the house. See id at 486-487. The Court reasoned that because the officers found a car in the driveway but received no answer when they identified themselves at the open door of the house, the officers did not violate the Fourth Amendment by entering the home to look for a possibly sick or injured homeowner or a possible intruder. See id. at 489-490.