Court says warrantless search justified

By The Associated Press
Posted: 5:41 pm Tue, January 24, 2012

BURBANK, Calif. — The U.S. Supreme Court says Burbank police were justified in invading a teenage student’s home without a search warrant because investigators believed violence was imminent.

Burbank officers were investigating a rumor that student Vincent Huff was planning to “shoot up” Bellarmine-Jefferson High School when they showed up at the teen’s home five years ago.

The Los Angeles Times said Huff and his mother came outside to talk to the officers and, when asked if there were guns in the house, the woman rushed back inside.

Officers followed her inside.

A federal judge ruled officers were entitled to immunity because violence appeared to be imminent.

But the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to grant immunity to two officers.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the search was justified.