Steagald v. United States

A federal agent in Detroit was contacted by a confidential informant who suggested that he might be able to locate Ricky Lyons, a federal fugitive. The informant gave the agent a telephone number in the Atlanta area where, according to the informant, Lyons could be reached during the next twenty-four hours. The information was relayed to agents in Atlanta, who learned that the telephone number was assigned to Steagald’s house.

Two days later, agents went to the address to execute an arrest warrant for Lyons. They observed two men, Gaultney and Steagald, standing in front of the house. The agents frisked and identified the two men. Several agents proceeded to the house. Gaultney’s wife answered the door. She was detained while one agent searched the house for Lyons. Lyons was not found, but during the search of the house the agent observed what he believed to be cocaine. An agent was sent to secure a search warrant and in the meantime, a second search was conducted and incriminating evidence was discovered. During the third search of the house (which was conducted with the search warrant) forty-three pounds of cocaine were found.