Law: When the Police Blunder a Little

The court considers a major exception to the exclusionary rule

The anonymous letter to police in Bloomingdale, Ill., reported that Lance and Susan Gates had more than $100,000 worth of drugs in their basement and that they "make their living on selling drugs." Prompted by the letter, officers made a preliminary investigation, went to a magistrate, got a warrant, searched the Gates home and car and found more than 350 lbs. of marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia, weapons and ammunition. A good bust of two suspected drug traffickers? Not exactly. Instead, that case turned...