Duke: Police Tried to Enter Players' Rooms

Durham Herald Sun / ^ | 4/14/06 | Locomotive Breath

[Howlin]

News conference video is here:

http://www.wral.com/index.html

[Froufrou]

I had heard that one indictment is expected...so how can it be that they have no DNA evidence [no DNA match?]

As I asked elsewhere, do they have a non-secretor?

[Locomotive Breath]

Well, that's my theory. Maybe she counted on quietly withdrawing the charges later. What Mangum didn't realize is that Nifong would jump all over it and now she's stuck.

[GAgal]

There were search warrants re N & O:

http://www.newsobserver.com/1185/story/428674.html

[rvoitier]

Also, this year, they were a legitimate national title contender.

Four 'commits' changed their minds, too.

[Mr. Lucky]

The warrantless search of a dormitory room requires the consent of one of the occupants. (A private college could, presumably, require by contract that the authority to consent to a search be assigned to the administration.)

[Neville72]

I believe courts have upheld the rights of universities to search their dorm rooms but I'm not so sure about outside law enforcement agencies.

[Enterprise]

My understanding is that the residents have the same rights as homeowners or apartment dwellers. They have an expectation of privacy and the University can not waive it for them.

[jiggyboy]

Fishing expedition IMO. They were there to find some weed, "child porn" (porno DVD's with 17-year-olds who told the movie company they were 18, e.g., Tracy Lords), non-prescribed painkillers, etc. "Dammit Chief, I need something to make somebody look bad here!"

I like "attempted". That says to me they tried to badge their way in ("you don't mind if we come in, do you?") and whoever was at the house didn't fall for it.

[Howlin]

Is this a mess or what?

[Tulane]

"Do residents of dorm rooms have the same legal rights as regular tenants?"

I would say that there is definitely an expectation of privacy.

[Tulane]

I am not sure you could waive it by contract (lease) with respect to searches by law enforcement.

[Enterprise]

What a great song, one of MY favorites still!

[Beckwith]

I don't believe that one-story house could be considered a dormitory and I also believe it is off-campus.

I could be wrong?

[Tribune7]

Police attempted to search the dorm rooms

Attempted? What happened, they were chased away by th R.A.? Didn't they have a warrant?

[Enterprise]

I have to confess that I somes break out in a grin about much of this mess. I am highly skeptical of her claims.

[GAgal]

What is known about Police Chief Chalmers and has he been heard from re this case?

http://www.durhampolice.com/chiefsmessage.cfm

[dfwgator]

Mark Fuhrman in reverse?

[AmishDude]

I wonder if the charges will be dropped shortly after the primary. After all, in winning the general election, the DA is not so dependent on black votes.

[Locomotive Breath]

If Nifong wins the primary he runs unopposed in the November general election. All he has to do is string it out until the primary.