Bayonet spotted inside car by Boston police leads to gun arrest

[Len-2A Training]

If a driver is having their car towed absent any probably cause (for example, an accident or they have a medical condition), does the "inventory search" allow the police to breech a locked container contained within the vehicle?

Legally IIRC they can't open a locked container within a vehicle (other than the glove box or trunk) without a search warrant (and probable cause) for an inventory search. It gets listed in the inventory as a locked case.

 

[Parker Schreiber]

If a driver is having their car towed absent any probably cause (for example, an accident or they have a medical condition), does the "inventory search" allow the police to breech a locked container contained within the vehicle?

It depends on the written policy of the agency holding the Vehicle. A typical policy states that if the cops have a key to the container, they can open it and inventory it. If they don't, they inventory it as a whole and typically add a tape seal. For example, you can find the policy for the Mass State Police here under rule TRF-10:

http://msptrooper.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Ma-State-Police-Policy-Procedure-Combined.pdf

 

[rivet_42]

Stolen plates, suspended license, open warrant, Jennings .22 pistol and a bayonet? Sounds like a car full of stupid.
I would expect this in Florida not up here.

Stupid is universal. It's just that stupid makes it into the papers more often in Florida because of that state's open records laws, which make it easy for cub reporters to fill column inches with "From the police blotter" type material.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

There is plenty of stupid to go around. Just look at how frequently criminals going out to ply their trade carry evidence of other crimes with them. If someone is going to shoplift, it's pretty stupid to do it with unprescribed Xanax or oxy in their pocket or carrying a gun unless the plan is to shoot themselves out of shiplifting grab which is a whole other level of stupid.