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SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA 98-KK-2146

STATE OF LOUISIANA versus

LEE MISKELL

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEAL FOURTH CIRCUIT, PARISH OF ORLEANS

KNOLL, Justice* In this criminal writ application, we are called upon to determine whether evidence seized pursuant to a search warrant should be suppressed because the police officers allegedly lacked reasonable suspicion that justified their no-knock entry and forced removal of burglar bars at the front entrance of defendant's residence. For the following reasons, we reverse the court of appeal and reinstate the trial court's ruling, finding the police officers articulated a reasonable basis to support their no-knock entry of defendant's residence. FACTS The record establishes that a confidential informant told Detective Michael Harrison on August 1, 1997, that an older black gentleman, later identified as defendant, was selling crack cocaine from his residence at 6716 Tara Lane in New Orleans. Based upon this information, Detective Harrison accompanied the informant to the neighborhood where defendant's residence is located in New Orleans East, provided him with cash to make a controlled purchase, and observed the informant purchase drugs from defendant at defendant's front door. After the informant met with

*

Calogero, C. J., not on panel. See Rule IV, Part 2,

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