Tennessee appeals court weighs whether vehicle search invaded home curtilage in State v. Gunn

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals heard argument in State of Tennessee v. David Keith Gunn over whether evidence seized from a vehicle parked behind 516 Pawnee Trail should have been suppressed. Presiding Judge Camille McMullen opened the March docket and the panel — which included Judge Timothy Easter (Middle Division) and Judge Jeffrey Oseman (appearing by assignment) — took argument but did not announce a decision; the matter was taken under advisement.

At issue was whether Gunn had standing to challenge a warrantless search of the car and whether the vehicle’s location was within the home’s curtilage, making a warrant necessary after Gunn’s arrest. Defense counsel Ryan Dugger framed the question as whether officers “should have left the property at 516 Pawnee Trail after taking Mr. Gunn into custody, or should they have gotten a search warrant to search the vehicle that was on the curtilage of the home?” Dugger told the court his client had “a clear nexus” to the residence based on the officer’s prior knowledge of Gunn staying at the address and that a…