ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court says it was OK for a firefighter to enter a Royal Oak house in an emergency and report the discovery of marijuana.
In a 5-2 opinion, the court said Friday that a community caretaking exception applies in the case of Mark Slaughter, who was living in a town house in 2007.
Slaughter's neighbor called the fire department about a water leak. A firefighter entered, turned off water in the basement and discovered 20 marijuana plants. Police got a search warrant and seized the pot.
Slaughter's attorney had successfully argued at the appeals court that it was an illegal search. But the Supreme Court says the firefighter was acting in good faith when he entered the home, and the pot was in plain view.
