Wilson v. Arkansas

Sharlene Wilson (defendant) sold drugs to a police informant and later threatened the informant with a gun. Police obtained a warrant to search the home she shared with Bryson Jacobs (defendant), who had arson and firebombing convictions. Officers announced themselves as they entered through an unlocked screen door and open main door, finding Wilson flushing drugs, along with drugs, paraphernalia, and a gun. Wilson moved to suppress, arguing the search was unreasonable because police did not knock and announce before entering. The trial court denied the motion, she was convicted, and the Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed. The U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Whether courts must consider whether police knocked and announced before entering a home to execute a search warrant in determining the search's reasonableness under the Fourth Amendment.