Federal court OKs police search

DENVER (AP) -- A federal appeals court in Denver rules that evidence seized by Kansas police in an Oklahoma search can be used against a criminal defendant.<br/><br/>Monday's ruling overturns an Oklahoma

Tuesday, March 21st 2006, 6:12 am

By: News On 6

DENVER (AP) -- A federal appeals court in Denver rules that evidence seized by Kansas police in an Oklahoma search can be used against a criminal defendant.

Monday's ruling overturns an Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruling in 2004 that the evidence should be suppressed because Kansas police didn't have authority to conduct a search in Oklahoma.

Based on the 3-to-2 state court ruling, a judge suppressed the use of motorcyle engines as evidence in a case against Bartlesville motorcycle shop operator Paul Michael Sawyer.

The unanimous ruling by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals overturns the suppression decision of former US District Judge Sven Erik Holmes in Tulsa.

Sawyer was charged in 2003 with conspiracy to possess stolen property that had crossed state lines and with possessing engines with altered vehicle identification numbers with the intent to sell them.