Mound City, MO Article III Administrative Search Warrants

Section 125.200 Administrative Search Warrants.

[Ord. No. 1011 §1, 12-5-2002]

A. Administrative Search Warrants.

1. An "administrative search warrant" is a written order of the Municipal Court Judge commanding the search or inspection of any property, place or thing and the seizure, photographing, copying or recording of property or physical conditions found thereon or therein to determine or prove the existence of violations of any ordinance or code of the City of Mound City relating to the use, condition or occupancy of property or structures located within the City of Mound City or to enforce the provisions of any such ordinance or code Section.

2. The Municipal Court Judge having original and exclusive jurisdiction to determine violations against the ordinances of the municipality may issue an administrative search warrant when the property or place to be searched or inspected or the thing to be seized is located within the City limits of the City of Mound City at the time of the making of the application and the owner or occupant of the property or place to be searched or inspected or the thing to be seized has refused to allow same after an official request.

3. Any such warrant shall be directed to any Law Enforcement Officer of the City of Mound City and shall be executed within the City limits of the City of Mound City.

B. Application Procedures.

1. The City Attorney of the City of Mound City, the City Prosecuting Attorney for the City of Mound City or any Law Enforcement Officer of the City of Mound City may make application to the Municipal Court Judge for the issuance of an administrative search warrant.

2. The application shall:

a. Be in writing;

b. State the time and date of the making of the application;

c. Identify the property or places to be entered, searched, inspected or seized in sufficient detail and particularity that the officer executing the warrant can readily ascertain it;

d. State that the owner or occupant of the property or places to be entered, searched, inspected or seized has been requested by the City of Mound City to allow such action and has refused to allow such action;

e. State facts sufficient to show probable cause for the issuance of a search warrant, as provided herein, to search or inspect for violations of an ordinance or code Section specified in the application or show that entry or seizure is authorized and necessary to enforce an ordinance or code Section specified in the application and that any required due process has been afforded prior to the entry or seizure;

f. Be verified by the oath or affirmation of the applicant; and

g. Be signed by the applicant and filed with the Mound City Municipal Division of the Circuit Court of Holt County, Missouri.

C. Search Warrant Hearing Procedure.

1. The Municipal Judge shall hold a non-adversary hearing to determine whether probable cause exists to inspect or search for violations of any City of Mound City ordinance or code Section or to enforce any such ordinance or code Section.

2. In doing so, the Municipal Judge shall determine whether the action to be taken by the City of Mound City is reasonable in light of the facts stated. The Municipal Judge shall consider the goals of the ordinance or code Section sought to be enforced and such other factors as may be appropriate including, but not limited to, the physical condition of the specified property, the age and nature of the property, the condition of the area in which the property is located, the known violation of any relevant City of Mound City ordinance or code Section and the passage of time since the property's last inspection. The standard for issuing a warrant need not be limited to actual knowledge of an existing violation of a Mound City ordinance or code Section.

3. If it appears from the application and any supporting affidavit that there is probable cause to inspect or search for violations of any City of Mound City ordinance or code Section or to enforce any such ordinance or code Section, a search warrant shall immediately be issued.

4. The application, any supporting affidavit and one (1) copy of the warrant as issued shall be retained in the records of the Municipal Court.

D. Contents Of Search Warrant. The search warrant shall:

1. Be in writing and in the name of the City of Mound City;

2. Be directed to any Law Enforcement Officer of the City of Mound City;

3. State the time and date the warrant was issued;

4. Identify the property or places to be searched, inspected or entered upon in sufficient detail and particularity that the Law Enforcement Officer executing the warrant can readily ascertain it;

5. Command that the described property or places be searched or entered upon and that any evidence of any City of Mound City ordinance or code violations found therein or thereon or any property seized pursuant thereto or a description of such property seized be returned within ten (10) days after filing of the application to the Municipal Judge who issued the warrant to be dealt with according to law;

6. Be signed by the Judge, with his/her title of office indicated.

E. Search Warrant Execution And Return.

1. A search warrant issued under this Section shall be executed only by a City of Mound City Law Enforcement Officer. It is provided however, that one (1) or more designated officials including the Building Inspector, Code Enforcement Officers, employees of the Mound City Water, Sewer or Street Departments or other appropriate individuals may accompany the Law Enforcement Officer and the warrant shall be executed in the following manner:

a. The warrant shall be executed by conducting the search, inspection, entry or seizure as commanded and shall be executed as soon as practicable and in a reasonable manner.

b. The officer shall give the owner or occupant of the properly searched, inspected or entered upon a copy of the warrant.

c. If any property is seized incident to the search, the officer shall give the person from whose possession it was taken, if the person is present, an itemized receipt for the property taken. If no such person is present, the officer shall leave the receipt at the site of the search in a conspicuous place.

d. A copy of the itemized receipt of any property taken shall be delivered to the City Attorney or City Prosecuting Attorney within two (2) working days of the search.

e. The disposition of property seized pursuant to a search warrant under this Section shall be in accordance with an applicable City of Mound City ordinance or code Section, but in the absence of same, then with Section 542.301, RSMo.

2. The officer may summon as many persons as he/she deems necessary to assist him/her in executing the warrant and such persons shall not be held liable as a result of any illegality of the search and seizure.

3. An officer making a search pursuant to an invalid warrant, the invalidity of which is not apparent on its face, may use such force as he/she would be justified in using if the warrant were valid.

4. A search warrant shall expire if it is not executed and the required return made within ten (10) days after the date of the making of the application.

5. After execution of the search warrant, the warrant, with a return thereon signed by the officer making the search, shall be delivered to the Municipal Court. The return shall show the date and manner of execution and, if known, the name of the possessor and of the owner, when not the same person of the property or places searched or seized.

6. Upon request, the Court Clerk shall deliver a copy of the return to the possessor and the owner, when not the same person of the property searched or seized.

F. Invalidity Of Search Warrant. A search warrant executed under this Section shall be held to be invalid in the following circumstances:

1. If it was not issued by the Municipal Judge;

2. If it was issued without a written application having been filed and verified;

3. If it was issued without sufficient probable cause in light of the goals of the ordinance to be enforced and such other factors as provided herein;

4. If it was issued with respect to property or places not in the City of Mound City;

5. If it does not describe the property or places to be searched, inspected, entered upon or seized with sufficient certainty;

6. If it is not signed by the Judge who issued it; or

7. If it was not executed and the required return made within ten (10) days after the date of the making of the application.