Is an anonymous tip enough to let the pigs raid your home?

[GhostToker]

I find it hard to believe that an anonymous tip is enough evidence to warrant a raid on someone's home. I thought a search warrant has to be specific, describing a specific place to be searched and what is to be seized. So for example, search for "top floor bedroom for mj plants". An anonymous tip is typically something like, "i think someone is growing weed at 555 fake street", without specifying any specifics. Does this vary from state to state? I have a hard time seeing this being a valid reason to search someone's premises since it explicitly violates the 4rth ammendment. A search warrant requires probable cause- an anonymous snitch is hardly probable cause. Think about what would happen if the cops raided houses every time they got an anonymous tip... people could die.

Can someone cite any real legal evidence that an anonymous tip was used as probable cause for a search warrant?

 

[ocean99]

NOPE.

 

[GreenintheThumb]

It's not enough alone. But a signed statement saying they saw your grow is enough...but not exactly what you'd call anonymous...

btw- I'm speaking on USA...

 

[lysol]

Its enough for them to watch you & pull your records illegally, once they know whats up theyll follow you as long as it takes to gain probable cause. Google for barry coopers video kop busters, he catches em red handed.

And "wouldnt ppl get killed?" - What makes you think they dont?

 

[IE2KS_KUSH]

hmm..
Where I am getting ready to move back to, years ago, uh.. nope nevermind, annonymous tip brought them to the house, but they did smell it. And when I say they did, I mean, just lit the biggest joint I had literally ever rolled in my life, and had passed it around maybe 1 time when they announced. So ya, that's alone is not enough, but if they really suspect it's true, then they will follow you and watch you lke a hawk. They did in fact tell us that they had been watching the house for some time too. So ya. That makes sense. Good question.

 

[Fuzz420]

anonymous tip+investigation=probable bust

 

[G.O. Joe]

It goes without saying that they are going to try to get as much as they can on you before breaking down your door. Obviously the next step after getting a tip is taking a good look for "suspicious activity", clocking your meter, going through your trash, and calling the power company. If that doesn't pan out, a knock and talk for consent to search, followed by surveillance of what you do immediately afterwards if denied.

Of course if you are growing, then yes an anonymous tip will be all that is necessary because of the above.

Tip + sworn statement from officer saying that in his professional experience you have indicators of growing = warrant.

 

[SmokyMtnToker]

The word of someone NOT known to be a reliable informant is NOT enough alone for a warrant. It takes MORE than just one rats word. Of course it is enough to get the filth investigating and from that a warrant MIGHT be drawn eventually, but you are corredct that if one person's word was enough that we would see people lying all the time just to get enemies harrassed.

A lot of people think that the cops can just stroll in to a judges chambers are get him to sign a warrant application based on nothing...but that is not true. It takes probable cause, and that means evidence enough to convince a reasonable person that a crime had been committed. The cops would LOVE it in their black hearts if they could do away with warrants altogether, but thank God we staill have some rights..as long as we use them.

The trick is to NEVER give consent, never listen to the cops filthy lies, and always get a lawyer before speaking to the scum.

 

[Pythagllio]

I got busted on an anonymous tip.

The warrant had 3 things listed...anonymous tip led to investigation. It noted that (1)I had been arrested (charges dismissed btw) for poss/intent cocaine 2 years earlier. (2)It noted that my 'average' electric bill was significantly higher than my neighbors. That 'average' was for one month, summertime, compared to average across a year for my neighbors. (3)It noted that I had blocked my windows to keep people from peeping in.

The judge ruled that the 'totality' of the 3 things combined added up to probable cause, and the court of appeals upheld unanimously.

Is an anonymous tip by itself enough to get a warrant? No, but add in your electric bill, whatever you do with your trash, and one other minor piece of bull crap and you get raided. Without the anonymous tip no warrant would have been issued in my case, so my answer is 'yes, it is, you better believe it'.

Remember, if you get into a fistfight and kick your growing partner's ass that you need to break down. Strike that, you need to break down if your growing and have anyone who knows about it.

 

[Lord Doobie]

it sure is...especially if the words "meth lab" are used
broke the door right down...with relish...and ran around yelling hut hut hut hut
south side of chicago?
try a remote mountain cabin 12 miles from town

 

[Baddog40]

A lot of people think that the cops can just stroll in to a judges chambers are get him to sign a warrant application based on nothing...but that is not true. It takes probable cause, and that means evidence enough to convince a reasonable person that a crime had been committed. The cops would LOVE it in their black hearts if they could do away with warrants altogether, but thank God we staill have some rights..as long as we use them.

You are missing one important piece of info: COPS ARE THE BIGGEST LIARS ON THE PLANET

 

[ocean99]

One thing they do in my city is send a building inspector in if they suspect you've built any sort of extra room in the garage/ANYTHING without a permit. If they do this don't let them in without a warrant and break down for sure. Get all your grow shit out of there and if the room is big enough and you have the means make it look like an extra bedroom let them in when they come back to check it out, get the permit, start growing again. 1 2 3, no more police interest in your case.