Following denial of his motion to suppress, defendant was convicted in the District Court of possession of controlled substances, and he appealed. The Court of Appeals affirmed, and defendant appealed.
The Supreme Court held that:
- Officer “seized” garbage bags and papers and effects contained therein;
- Officer engaged in “search” when he opened garbage bags he had seized;
- Garbage bags and their contents were “papers” and “effects” protected by state constitution’s prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures;
- Defendant did not abandon all right, title, and interest in property he put in garbage bags; and
- Officer’s warrantless seizure of bags and examination of their contents violated state constitution’s prohibition against unreasonable seizures and searches.