Officer Jenks observed Robinson (D) driving a Cadillac. Jenks had checked D's operator permit four days earlier and had reason to believe that D was driving without a license. He pulled D over and arrested him for operation after license revocation and obtaining a permit by misrepresentation. Jenks followed police department procedures and searched D for weapons. While searching D, he felt an object in D's coat. He could not tell what it was but did not think it was a weapon. He pulled out a crumpled cigarette package. He felt something inside the package, which he could tell were not cigarettes. Jenks opened the package and found 14 heroin capsules inside. The District Court convicted D of possession of heroin. It was assumed by the Court of Appeals and conceded by D that Jenks had probable cause to arrest D. The Court of Appeals reversed the conviction, holding that the heroin introduced had been obtained as a result of a search, which violated the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution. P appealed.

This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

The legal issues presented in this case will be displayed here.

The court's holding and decision will be displayed here.

Legal analysis from Dean's Law Dictionary will be displayed here.