United States v. Baxter

Louisville police officers went to the defendant Martin Baxters home to execute a search warrant for suspected drug trafficking. While waiting for other officers to arrive, police officers on the scene observed a man unknown to them enter and leave Baxters home. After leaving the house, the man was stopped by the police and found to be in possession of cocaine. The police then proceeded to the defendants house, and Detectives John Reed and Charlie Brown knocked on the front door. The defendant opened the door slightly, and the detectives observed another man sitting in the living room. Detective Reed then asked the defendant for a fictitious person to gain entry. Baxter apparently then realized that the two men were police officers and slammed the door. The detectives then immediately identified themselves as police officers and tried to go inside. Detective Reeds arm went through the glass in the front door as Baxter slammed it. The officers smashed through the door, Reed was injured in the process, and the defendant ran to the back of the house, pursued by the police.