Chimel+v.+California

=**Chimel v. California (1969)**=

Background
On September 13, 1969, Ted Chimel came home in Santa Ana, California to three police officers, who asked permission to enter the house, and his wife. Where there inside he was presented with a warrant for his arrest for burglary of a coin shop, after handed the warrant the officers asked to search the house but Chimel refused. But was advised that under 395 U.S. 752, 754 "on the basis of the lawful arrest" they can still conduct a search over his refusal. The police had Chimel's wife go through the entire 3 bedroom home along with the attic, garage, and small workshop with the officers during the search. The police told Chimel's wife to open up drawers and physically move around the items so they could see any possible evidence linking him to the burglary. The officers did seize numerous items such as coins and metals, that were later used to convict Chimel in State courts. The issue that goes along with this case was whether the warrantless search conducted in Chimel's home was constitutional under the fourth amendment as "incident to that arrest?" The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the conviction, stating that the only the area within the immediate control of the suspect could reasonably be searched by the arresting officers, because that area is where the suspect could reasonably reach a weapon to threaten an officer or destroy evidence. The court ruled that the search of Chimel's home was unreasonable under the fourth and fourteenth amendments.