Ohio Court Upholds Police Rescue Of Suicidal Man

The Ohio Supreme Court has upheld the actions of police officers who pulled over a suicidal man, then took his gun from the glove compartment without a warrant. The court says an exception to the Fourth Amendment for people providing emergency aid allows officers to make a traffic stop if they believe a person's life is in danger. The court ruled 6-1 Thursday that Vandalia officers acted properly when they pulled over a truck driven by Richard Dunn in 2008 after getting a phone tip that he had a weapon and planned to kill himself. Dunn fought a charge later filed against him of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, arguing the traffic stop was unconstitutional and officers didn't read him his rights.