High court upholds search of felon's property

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled authorities had the right to search an Ellsworth woman's property for guns even though they had no cause or suspicion to do so.

The court said because Tally Ann Rowan is on extended supervision for battery to a law enforcement officer, the search does not violate her constitutional rights, although it may impinge on them.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the 36-year-old woman crashed her car while intoxicated in 2008, then threatened to shoot emergency responders and kill a police officer's family. Later, an officer was injured while trying to restrain the woman at the hospital.

The Court of Appeals passed the case to the higher court, saying it was a "novel issue of statewide importance that is certain to recur."