Duties and Powers of Law Enforcement Officers; Search Warrants.

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35-7-1045. Duties and powers of law enforcement officers; search warrants.

(a) Notwithstanding the powers conferred upon the attorney general by this act all law enforcement officers within this state shall have the responsibility for the enforcement of this act.

(b) Any special agent designated by the attorney general and any law enforcement officer engaged in the enforcement of this act may:

(i) Carry firearms in the performance of his official duties;

(ii) Serve search warrants, arrest warrants, administrative inspection warrants, subpoenas, and summonses issued under the authority of this state;

(iii) Make arrests without warrant for any offense under this act committed in his presence, or if he has probable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed, or is committing a violation of this act;

(iv) Make seizures of property pursuant to this act; and

(v) Perform such other law enforcement duties as the commissioner may designate.

(c) All prosecutions originating under this act shall be the duty and obligation of the district attorney for the county in which the offense occurred.

(d) A search warrant relating to offenses involving controlled substances may be served at any time of the day or night if the judge or district court commissioner issuing the warrant is satisfied that there is probable cause to believe that grounds exist for the warrant and for its service at such time.

(e) Any officer authorized to execute a search warrant relating to offenses involving controlled substances the penalty for which is imprisonment for more than one (1) year may, without notice of his authority and purpose, break open an outer or inner door or window of a building, or any part of the building, or anything therein, only if a district judge or district court commissioner issuing the warrant: (i) is satisfied that there is probable cause to believe that (A) the property sought may and, if such notice is given, will be easily and quickly destroyed or disposed of, or (B) the giving of such notice will immediately endanger the life or safety of the executing officer or another person; and (ii) has included in the warrant a direction that the officer executing it shall not be required to give such notice. Any officer acting under such warrant, shall, as soon as practicable after entering the premises, identify himself and give the reason and authority for his entrance upon the premises.


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