[1] In mid-January 1978, a confidential informant contacted an agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Detroit and provided an Atlanta-area telephone number at which Ricky Lyons, a fugitive subject to a federal arrest warrant related to a marijuana indictment dating back to July 1977, could be reached for the next 24 hours.

[1][2] After frisking both and determining that neither was Lyons, the officers proceeded to the front door, where they met Gaultney's wife, Cathy, who advised that no one else was present in the home.

[4] The approximately 43 pounds of cocaine, with a wholesale value of some $2.5 million at the time, had been smuggled as custom imports from Colombia in hollowed-out ornamental brass lamps and table bases.

[2][4] Steagald asked the trial court to suppress the evidence discovered through the warrantless search pursuant to the exclusionary rule.

In a 2–1 opinion, the Fifth Circuit agreed with the district court that the arrest warrant for Lyons was sufficient grounds for law enforcement to search the premises and affirmed the convictions.

"[4] Steagald then appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States, which granted certiorari to decide whether the government may search a third-party's property pursuant to an arrest warrant without the owner's consent.