New Jersey Court Reverses Ruling on Disputed Drug Search
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- A Camden County man's drug conviction has been reinstated after New Jersey's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday a search of his apartment was lawful.
An appeals court had thrown out James Robinson's conviction because it said police didn't wait long enough after knocking before they forced their way into his apartment in 2004.
Police said they waited 20 to 30 seconds after receiving no response. Drugs were found and Robinson was convicted.
The appeals court ruled that by not waiting longer, the police turned their ``knock-and-announce'' warrant into a ``no-knock'' warrant. No-knock warrants are issued when officers certify that the suspect may be dangerous.
The state Supreme Court found the search was lawful.
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