Are there any exceptions to the above?

Police officers may be entitled to enter your home to pursue a fleeing suspect, even if the suspect is entering a home that is not his own. Or they may have grounds to believe that entering a home is necessary to prevent the destruction of evidence of a serious crime. Some examples would include a “Hot Pursuit”, which may include a drunk driver pursued by police who pulls into his driveway and runs into his home. Destuction of evidence could include flushing drugs down the toilet or burning or destroying DNA evidence related to a sexual assault or a murder.

Other emergencies may justify a warrantless entry by the police, such as responding to a distress call made over 911, an ongoing domestic assault, or some other circumstance where police reasonably believe that someone’s life or safety is in danger.