Seized safe from N. Idaho home leads to drug, weapon charges

LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) - A northern Idaho judge has ruled that police acted properly when they seized a safe from a home and later opened it after a drug dog’s alert.

The Lewiston Tribune reports (https://bit.ly/29A4uY2) that Magistrate Greg K. Kalbfleish on Wednesday determined the methamphetamine and a handgun found in the safe amounted to enough evidence to substantiate possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a felon.

As a result, 36-year-old Jess L. Matson of Lewiston is scheduled to appear in 2nd District Court on those charges on July 21.

Defense attorney Richard M. Cuddihy argued that police entered the home on a fishing expedition.

But Nez Perce County Deputy Prosecutor April Smith says officers legally gained access to the home and seized the safe after finding drugs.

She says police also obtained a search warrant before opening the safe.

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Information from: Lewiston Tribune, https://www.lmtribune.com