kentucky king argued january decided may police officers lexington kentucky followed suspected drug dealer apartment complex smelled marijuana outside apartment door knocked loudly announced presence soon officers began knocking heard noises coming apartment officers believed noises consistent destruction evidence officers announced intent enter apartment kicked door found respondent others saw drugs plain view protective sweep apartment found additional evidence subsequent search circuit denied respondent motion suppress evidence holding exigent circumstances need prevent destruction evidence justified warrantless entry respondent entered conditional guilty plea reserving right appeal suppression ruling kentucky appeals affirmed kentucky reversed assumed exigent circumstances existed nonetheless invalidated search exigent circumstances rule apply held police foreseen conduct prompt occupants attempt destroy evidence held exigent circumstances rule applies police create exigency engaging threatening engage conduct violates fourth amendment pp fourth amendment expressly imposes two requirements searches seizures must reasonable warrant may issued unless probable cause properly established scope authorized search set particularity although seizures inside home without warrant presumptively unreasonable brigham city stuart presumption may overcome exigencies make needs law enforcement compelling warrantless search objectively reasonable fourth amendment mincey arizona one exigency need prevent imminent destruction evidence brigham city supra pp exigency doctrine lower courts developed exception exigent circumstances rule exigent circumstances justify warrantless search exigency created manufactured conduct police lower courts agreed however test determining police impermissibly create exigency pp proper test follows principle permits warrantless searches warrantless searches allowed circumstances make reasonable within meaning fourth amendment dispense warrant requirement thus warrantless entry based exigent circumstances reasonable police create exigency engaging threatening engage conduct violating fourth amendment similar approach taken cases involving warrantless searches example officers may seize evidence plain view violated fourth amendment arriving spot observation evidence made see horton california may seek encounters lawfully present place consensual encounter occurs see ins delgado pp courts including kentucky imposed additional requirements asking whether officers created exigent circumstances bad faith intent avoid warrant requirement case reasoning police may rely exigency reasonably foreseeable investigative tactics create exigent circumstances ibid faulting officers knocking door sufficient evidence seek warrant finding officers created manufactured exigency investigation contrary standard good law enforcement practices requirements unsound thus rejected pp respondent contends exigency impermissibly created officers engage conduct cause reasonable person believe entry imminent inevitable approach also flawed ability officers respond exigency turn subtleties officers tone voice announcing presence forcefulness knocks forceful knock may necessary alert occupants someone door unless officers identify loudly enough occupants may know doorstep respondent test make extremely difficult officers know loudly may announce presence forcefully may knock without running afoul exigency rule cases nearly impossible determine whether threshold passed pp assuming exigency existed evidence officers either violated fourth amendment threatened prior point entered apartment pp question whether exigency existed better addressed kentucky remand assuming exigency exist officers conduct banging door announcing presence entirely consistent fourth amendment respondent pointed evidence supporting argument officers made sort demand enter apartment much less demand amounts threat violate fourth amendment contradictory evidence brought attention state may elect address matter remand finally record makes clear officers announcement going enter apartment made exigency arose pp reversed remanded alito delivered opinion roberts scalia kennedy thomas breyer sotomayor kagan joined ginsburg filed dissenting opinion kentucky petitioner hollis deshaun king writ certiorari kentucky may justice alito delivered opinion well established exigent circumstances including need prevent destruction evidence permit police officers conduct otherwise permissible search without first obtaining warrant case consider whether rule applies police knocking door residence announcing presence cause occupants attempt destroy evidence kentucky held exigent circumstances rule apply case hand police foreseen conduct prompt occupants attempt destroy evidence reject interpretation exigent circumstances rule conduct police prior entry apartment entirely lawful violate fourth amendment threaten situation exigent circumstances rule applies case concerns search apartment lexington kentucky police officers set controlled buy crack cocaine outside apartment complex undercover officer gibbons watched deal take place unmarked car nearby parking lot deal occurred gibbons radioed uniformed officers move suspect told officers suspect moving quickly toward breezeway apartment building urged hurry get suspect entered apartment app response radio alert uniformed officers drove nearby parking lot left vehicles ran breezeway entered breezeway heard door shut detected strong odor burnt marijuana end breezeway officers saw two apartments one left one right know apartment suspect entered gibbons radioed suspect running apartment right officers hear statement already left vehicles smelled marijuana smoke emanating apartment left approached door apartment officer steven cobb one uniformed officers approached door testified officers banged left apartment door loud announced police police cobb said soon officers started banging door hear people inside moving sounded though things moved inside apartment noises cobb testified led officers believe evidence destroyed point officers announced going make entry inside apartment ibid cobb kicked door officers entered apartment found three people front room respondent hollis king respondent girlfriend guest smoking officers performed protective sweep apartment saw marijuana powder cocaine plain view subsequent search also discovered crack cocaine cash drug paraphernalia police eventually entered apartment right inside found suspected drug dealer initial target investigation fayette county circuit grand jury charged respondent trafficking marijuana trafficking controlled substance persistent felony offender status respondent filed motion suppress evidence warrantless search circuit denied motion circuit concluded officers probable cause investigate marijuana odor officers properly conducted investigation initially knocking door apartment unit awaiting response consensual entry app pet cert exigent circumstances justified warrantless entry held response knocking officer cobb heard movement apartment reasonably concluded persons act destroying evidence particularly narcotics smell ibid respondent entered conditional guilty plea reserving right appeal denial suppression motion sentenced respondent years imprisonment kentucky appeals affirmed held exigent circumstances justified warrantless entry police reasonably believed evidence destroyed police impermissibly create exigency explained deliberately evade warrant requirement kentucky reversed preliminary matter observed certainly question whether sound persons moving inside apartment sufficient establish evidence destroyed answer question instead assume purpose argument exigent circumstances existed ibid determine whether police impermissibly created exigency kentucky announced test first held police deliberately creat exigent circumstances bad faith intent avoid warrant requirement internal quotation marks omitted second even absent bad faith concluded police may rely exigent circumstances reasonably foreseeable investigative tactics employed police create exigent circumstances ibid internal quotation marks omitted although found evidence bad faith held exigent circumstances justify search reasonably foreseeable occupants destroy evidence police knocked door announced presence ibid granted certiorari ii fourth amendment provides right people secure persons houses papers effects unreasonable searches seizures shall violated warrants shall issue upon probable cause supported oath affirmation particularly describing place searched persons things seized text amendment thus expressly imposes two requirements first searches seizures must reasonable second warrant may issued unless probable cause properly established scope authorized search set particularity see payton new york although text fourth amendment specify search warrant must obtained inferred warrant must generally secured principle fourth amendment law often said searches seizures inside home without warrant presumptively unreasonable brigham city stuart quoting groh ramirez also recognized presumption may overcome circumstances ultimate touchstone fourth amendment brigham city supra see also michigan fisher per curiam slip accordingly warrant requirement subject certain reasonable exceptions brigham city supra one exception applies exigencies situation make needs law compelling warrantless search objectively reasonable fourth amendment mincey arizona see also payton supra fourth amendment drawn firm line entrance house absent exigent circumstances threshold may reasonably crossed without warrant identified several exigencies may justify warrantless search home see brigham city emergency aid exception example officers may enter home without warrant render emergency assistance injured occupant protect occupant imminent injury ibid see also fisher supra slip upholding warrantless home entry based emergency aid exception police officers may enter premises without warrant hot pursuit fleeing suspect see santana relevant need prevent imminent destruction evidence long recognized sufficient justification warrantless search brigham city supra see also georgia randolph minnesota olson years lower courts developed exception exigent circumstances rule exigency doctrine doctrine police may rely need prevent destruction evidence exigency created manufactured conduct police see chambers warrantless search stand law enforcement officers must responding unanticipated exigency rather simply creating exigency gould en banc lthough exigent circumstances may justify warrantless probable cause entry home exigent circumstances manufactured agents internal quotation marks omitted applying exception creation manufacturing exigency police courts require something mere proof fear detection police caused destruction evidence additional showing obviously needed eighth circuit recognized sense police always create exigent circumstances duchi say vast majority cases evidence destroyed persons engaged illegal conduct reason destruction fear evidence fall hands law enforcement destruction evidence issues probably occur frequently drug cases drugs may easily destroyed flushing toilet rinsing drain persons possession valuable drugs unlikely destroy unless fear discovery police consequently rule precludes police making warrantless entry prevent destruction evidence whenever conduct causes exigency unreasonably shrink reach exception warrant requirement presumably purpose avoiding result lower courts held exigency doctrine requires simple causation lower courts agreed test applied indeed petition case maintains currently five different tests used courts appeals pet cert state courts crafted additional tests iii despite welter tests devised lower courts answer question presented case follows directly clearly principle permits warrantless searches first place previously noted warrantless searches allowed circumstances make reasonable within meaning fourth amendment dispense warrant requirement therefore answer question us exigent circumstances rule justifies warrantless search conduct police preceding exigency reasonable sense police create exigency engaging threatening engage conduct violates fourth amendment warrantless entry prevent destruction evidence reasonable thus taken similar approach cases involving warrantless searches example held law enforcement officers may seize evidence plain view provided violated fourth amendment arriving spot observation evidence made see horton california put horton essential predicate valid warrantless seizure incriminating evidence officer violate fourth amendment arriving place evidence plainly viewed long prerequisite satisfied however matter officer makes observation may gone spot evidence seen hope able view seize evidence see fact officer interested item evidence fully expects find course search invalidate seizure instead fourth amendment requires steps preceding seizure lawful see similarly officers may seek encounters lawfully present place consensual encounter occurs see ins delgado noting officers entered encounters employees factory building lawfully present factory pursuant consent warrant consent freely given makes difference officer may approached person hope expectation obtaining consent see citizens respond police request fact people without told free respond hardly eliminates consensual nature response lower courts adopted rule similar one recognize today see macdonald en banc law enforcement officers impermissibly create exigent circumstances act entirely lawful manner state robinson wi others including kentucky imposed additional requirements unsound reject bad faith courts including kentucky ask whether law enforcement officers created exigent circumstances bad faith intent avoid warrant requirement quoting gould see also chambers socey cadc rengifo approach fundamentally inconsistent fourth amendment jurisprudence cases repeatedly rejected subjective approach asking whether circumstances viewed objectively justify action city alteration internal quotation marks omitted see also fisher slip indeed never held outside limited contexts inventory search administrative inspection officer motive invalidates objectively justifiable behavior fourth amendment whren see also brigham city supra reasons looking objective factors rather subjective intent clear legal tests based reasonableness generally objective long taken view evenhanded law enforcement best achieved application objective standards conduct rather standards depend upon subjective state mind officer horton supra reasonable foreseeability courts including kentucky hold police may rely exigency reasonably foreseeable investigative tactics employed police create exigent circumstances quoting mann state ark see also mowatt courts applying test invalidated warrantless home searches ground reasonably foreseeable police officers knocking door announcing presence lead drug suspect destroy evidence see contrary reasoning however rejected notion police may seize evidence without warrant come across evidence happenstance horton noted held police may seize evidence plain view even though officers may interested item evidence fully expec find course search adoption reasonable foreseeability test also introduce unacceptable degree unpredictability example whenever law enforcement officers knock door premises occupied person may involved drug trade possibility occupants may possess drugs may seek destroy reasonable foreseeability test necessary quantify degree predictability must reached exigency doctrine comes play simple example illustrates difficulties approach produce suppose officers present case smell marijuana smoke thus knew chance fleeing suspect entered apartment left rather apartment right circumstances reasonably foreseeable occupants apartment left seek destroy evidence upon learning police door suppose officers knew suspect disappeared one apartments floor even units police chose door random knocked purpose asking occupants knew person fit description suspect reasonably foreseeable occupants seek destroy evidence noted calculus reasonableness must embody allowance fact police officers often forced make judgments circumstances tense uncertain rapidly evolving graham connor reasonable foreseeability test create unacceptable unwarranted difficulties law enforcement officers must make quick decisions field well judges required determine fact whether destruction evidence response knock door reasonably foreseeable based officers knew time probable cause time secure warrant courts applying exigency doctrine fault law enforcement officers acquiring evidence sufficient establish probable cause search particular premises officers seek warrant instead knock door seek either speak occupant obtain consent search see chambers supra citing failure seek warrant face plentiful probable cause factor indicating police deliberately created exigency approach unjustifiably interferes legitimate law enforcement strategies many entirely proper reasons police may want seek search warrant soon bare minimum evidence needed establish probable cause acquired without attempting provide comprehensive list reasons note first police may wish speak occupants dwelling deciding whether worthwhile seek authorization search may think short simple conversation may obviate need apply execute warrant see schneckloth bustamonte second police may want ask occupant premises consent search simpler faster less burdensome applying warrant consensual search also may result considerably less inconvenience embarrassment occupants search conducted pursuant warrant ibid third law enforcement officers may wish obtain evidence submitting might otherwise considered marginal warrant application fourth prosecutors may wish wait acquire evidence justify search broader scope search judicial officer likely authorize based evidence available finally many cases law enforcement may want execute search disclose existence investigation may interfere acquisition additional evidence already suspicion evidence additional yet unknown participants criminal scheme said aw enforcement officers constitutional duty call halt criminal investigation moment minimum evidence establish probable cause hoffa faulting police failing apply search warrant earliest possible time obtaining probable cause imposes duty nowhere found constitution standard good investigative tactics finally lower cases suggest law enforcement officers may found created manufactured exigency concludes course investigation contrary standard good law enforcement practices policies practices jurisdictions gould approach fails provide clear guidance law enforcement officers authorizes courts make judgments matters province responsible federal state law enforcement agencies respondent argues rule differs discussed rule also flawed respondent contends law enforcement officers impermissibly create exigency engage conduct cause reasonable person believe entry imminent inevitable brief respondent respondent view relevant factors include officers tone voice announcing presence forcefulness knocks ability law enforcement officers respond exigency turn subtleties police officers may good reason announce presence loudly knock door force forceful knock may necessary alert occupants someone door cf banks police rapped hard enough door heard officers back door announced presence defendant shower testified heard nothing furthermore unless police officers identify loudly enough occupants may know doorstep officers permitted indeed encouraged identify citizens many circumstances cause assurance discomfort drayton citizens startled unexpected knock door sight unknown persons plain clothes doorstep may relieved learn persons police officers others may appreciate opportunity make informed decision whether answer door police respondent test adopted extremely difficult police officers know loudly may announce presence forcefully may knock door without running afoul exigency rule cases nearly impossible determine whether threshold passed fourth amendment require nebulous impractical test respondent reasons conclude exigent circumstances rule applies police gain entry premises means actual threatened violation fourth amendment holding provides ample protection privacy rights amendment protects law enforcement officers armed warrant knock door private citizen might whether person knocks door requests opportunity speak police officer private citizen occupant obligation open door speak cf florida royer may decline listen questions may go way police knock door occupants choose respond speak investigation reached conspicuously low point occupants kind warning even elaborate security system provide chambers sutton dissenting even occupant chooses open door speak officers occupant need allow officers enter premises may refuse answer questions time occupants choose stand constitutional rights instead elect attempt destroy evidence blame warrantless search may ensue iv apply interpretation exigency doctrine facts case need decide whether exigent circumstances existed case warrantless entry based exigent circumstances must course supported genuine exigency see brigham city trial kentucky appeals found real exigency case kentucky expressed doubt issue observing certainly question whether sound persons moving inside apartment sufficient establish evidence destroyed kentucky assum ed purpose argument exigent circumstances existed held police impermissibly manufactured exigency assume purposes argument exigency existed decide question kentucky ruled granted certiorari circumstances police impermissibly create exigency question whether exigency actually existed better addressed kentucky remand see kirk louisiana per curiam reversing judgment exigent circumstances required warrantless home entry remanding state determine whether exigent circumstances present case see evidence officers either violated fourth amendment threatened prior point entered apartment officer cobb testified without contradiction officers banged door loud announced either police police app conduct entirely consistent fourth amendment aware evidence might show officers either violated fourth amendment threatened example announcing break door occupants open door voluntarily respondent argues officers demanded entry apartment pointed evidence record supports assertion relies passing statement made trial opinion denying respondent motion suppress see app pet cert recounting events preceded search judge wrote officers banged door apartment back left breezeway identifying police officers demanding door opened persons inside ibid emphasis added deleted however later point opinion judge stated officers initially knock ed door apartment unit await ed response consensual entry later statement consistent testimony suppression hearing findings state appellate courts see officers knocked loudly back left apartment door announced app pet cert officers knock ed door announc ed police app evidence demand sort much less demand amounts threat violate fourth amendment contradictory evidence brought attention state may elect address matter remand finally respondent claims officers explained occupants officers going make entry inside apartment record clear officers make statement exigency arose officer cobb testified officers knew possibly something going destroyed inside apartment point explained going make entry ibid emphasis added given announcement made exigency arose created exigency like assume purposes argument exigency existed officers case violate threaten violate fourth amendment prior exigency hold exigency justified warrantless search apartment judgment kentucky reversed case remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered kentucky petitioner hollis deshaun king writ certiorari kentucky may justice ginsburg dissenting today arms police way routinely dishonor fourth amendment warrant requirement drug cases lieu presenting evidence neutral magistrate police officers may knock listen break door nevermind ample time obtain warrant dissent reduction fourth amendment force fourth amendment guarantees people right secure houses unreasonable searches seizures warrants search amendment instructs shall issue upon showing probable cause believe criminal activity afoot complementary provisions designed ensure police seek authorization neutral magistrate undertaking search seizure exceptions warrant requirement explained must number carefully delineated main rule remain hardy dist eastern dist see kyllo case involves principal exception warrant requirement exception applicable exigent circumstances see ante arefully delineated exception govern genuine emergency situations circumstances qualify exigent imminent risk death serious injury danger evidence immediately destroyed suspect escape brigham city stuart question presented may police pause gain approval neutral magistrate dispense need get warrant creating exigent circumstances answer kentucky urgency must exist rule police come scene subsequent arrival prompted conduct two pillars fourth amendment jurisprudence controlled ruling first whenever practical police must obtain advance judicial approval searches seizures warrant procedure terry ohio second unwarranted searches seizures inside home bear heightened scrutiny payton new york warrant requirement justice jackson observed ranks among fundamental distinctions form government officers law law johnson accordingly declared warrantless searches main per se unreasonable mincey arizona see also groh ramirez police bear heavy burden cautioned attempting demonstrate urgent need might justify warrantless searches welsh wisconsin heavy burden carried little risk evidence destroyed police delayed search pending magistrate authorization recognizes ersons possession valuable drugs unlikely destroy unless fear discovery police ante nothing record shows prior knock apartment door occupants apprehensive police proximity quarter fourth amendment apply greater force homes private space centuries regarded special protection georgia randolph minnesota carter kennedy concurring home intrusions said indeed chief evil fourth amendment directed payton internal quotation marks omitted see silverman fourth amendment core stands right man retreat home free unreasonable governmental earches seizures inside home without warrant therefore presumptively unreasonable brigham city quoting groh secure homes remain police armed warrant pound doors hearing sounds indicative things moving forcibly enter search evidence unlawful activity ii noted justify police activity case kentucky invoked exception emergencies delay necessary obtain warrant threaten destruction evidence schmerber california quoting preston fit within exception police action literally must taken never preserve evidence crime roaden kentucky existence genuine emergency depends state necessity time warrantless search depends first foremost actions taken police preceding warrantless search coles see also chambers fficers must seek warrant based probable cause believe advance find contraband evidence asting clear opportunity obtain warrant therefore disentitles officer relying subsequent exigent circumstances saltzburg capra american criminal procedure ed appropriately emergency exigent circumstances exception result case doubt target investigation entry building smell marijuana seeping apartment door hallway kentucky rightly determined gave police probable cause sufficient obtain warrant search apartment observed nothing made impracticable police post officers premises proceeding obtain warrant authorizing entry kentucky urge otherwise see brief petitioner asserting importance whether police obtained warrant johnson confronted scenario standing outside hotel room police smelled burning opium heard shuffling noise coming room internal quotation marks omitted police enter room without warrant answered explaining said right officers thrust home grave concern individual society chooses dwell reasonable security freedom surveillance right privacy must reasonably yield right search rule decided judicial officer policeman officers case excused constitutional duty presenting evidence magistrate difficult think case warrant required agree allow expedient knock override warrant requirement instead accord core requirement fourth amendment full respect possible warrant must generally secured acknowledges ante every reason conclude securing warrant entirely feasible case reason contract fourth amendment dominion footnotes respondent girlfriend leased apartment respondent stayed part time child lived based facts kentucky conceded state respondent fourth amendment standing challenge search see app pet cert see also granted certiorari respondent filed motion dismiss petition improvidently granted denied respondent principal argument case moot kentucky reversed conviction circuit dismissed charges respondent argument foreclosed explained reversal kentucky decision reinstate judgment conviction sentence entered circuit ibid absence indictment change matters see ibid upon respondents conviction sentence indictment returned merged convictions sentences preventing destruction evidence may also justify dispensing fourth amendment requirements contexts see richards wisconsin failure comply requirement justified circumstances show ed officers reasonable suspicion suspect might destroy evidence given opportunity schmerber california warrantless testing content justified based potential destruction evidence cf banks seconds reasonable time officers wait knocking announcing presence risk suspect dispose cocaine strong argument made least circumstances exigent circumstances rule apply police without warrant legally sound basis warrantless entry threaten enter without permission unless admitted case however actual threat made therefore need reach question contrary respondent argument see brief respondent johnson require affirmance case johnson officers noticed smell burning opium emanating hotel room knocked door demanded entry upon seeing johnson occupant room placed arrest searched room discovered opium drug paraphernalia defending legality search government attempted justify warrantless search room valid search incident lawful arrest see brief johnson pp government contend officers entered room order prevent destruction evidence although officers said heard noise inside room knocked door government claim particular noise noise led reasonable officer think evidence destroyed thus johnson simply case exigent circumstances see noting exceptional circumstances existed example suspect fleeing likely take flight evidence contraband threatened removal destruction may contended magistrate warrant search may dispensed footnotes johnson informed officer knocked johnson door thing naturally struck conceal opium equipment smoking see brief johnson government johnson urged shuffling noise indicated evidence risk result changed justice jackson recognition primacy warrant requirement suggests see ante distinguishing johnson ground government contend officers entered room order prevent destruction evidence