Under exigent circumstances, which scenario justifies warrantless entry?

• A. A neighbor's complaint about noise with no immediate risk
• B. A routine domestic dispute with no injuries
• C. A call reporting a possible burglary with no imminent risk
• D. Imminent danger to life, risk of destruction of evidence, or hot pursuit.

Answer: (D)

Under exigent circumstances, officers can enter without a warrant when delaying to obtain one would put someone at immediate risk or allow a crime to continue or its evidence to be destroyed. The key factors are imminent danger to life, the potential for destruction of evidence if there’s a delay, or hot pursuit of a suspect who has fled into the residence.

The described scenario aligns with these conditions because it includes imminent danger to life, or the risk that evidence could be destroyed, or the need to pursue a suspect who is inside. In such cases, waiting for a warrant would defeat the purpose of protecting life or preserving evidence, or would allow a suspect to escape.

The other scenarios lack an immediate threat, ongoing danger, or the risk of destruction that would justify bypassing the warrant. They do not meet the threshold for exigent entry.