sfpd patchCNET reports that the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the search for a prototype iPhone that went missing from a San Francisco bar in late July.

The case resulted in a significant amount of publicity after the SFPD initially reported that it had no record of any investigation into the disappearance or participation in a search of a house identified as where the lost iPhone had been tracked to. That claim led to suggestions that Apple's own security personnel may have posed as police officers, but the SFPD later acknowledged that it did participate in the search, accompanying Apple security officers to the house but not actively searching the premise themselves.

Police here have begun looking into what role officers played in a search by Apple for a missing unreleased iPhone.

Lt. Troy Dangerfield, of the San Francisco Police Department, told CNET today that an internal investigation has begun into determining how officers assisted two Apple security employees in their July search of a home in the Bernal Heights neighborhood for the handset.

The investigation is official confirmation that the SFPD is interested in learning the full story behind the search and whether there was any improper activity by either police officers or Apple's security team. The subject of the search has indicated that he was led to believe that all of those involved in the search were police officers, and would not have consented to the search had he known that the investigators conducting the search were private security personnel. The subject has also alleged that officers attempted to intimidate him by questioning the immigration status of those living in the house, threatening "trouble" despite his claims that all members of the household are in the United States legally.

Tag: CNET

Top Rated Comments

Celtic-moniker Avatar
181 months ago
There's three things i find interesting about what all you guys are writing.

Firstly, most of what I'm seeing here is utter rubbish. 'Apple employee posed as police'. What the? Talk about jumping to conclusions, and then pretending that they are facts.

Secondly. Where the hell is the phone? It's been a week... Do you honestly mean to tell me that all these PC magazines have been calling this guy, and the only thing he's had to say about the device, is to make some offhand remarks about the search of his house? Oh. Come. On! They guy has seen an iPhone prototype! Or, at the very least, an existing device that has prototype unreleased applications on it. So, why have we heard absolutely nil detail. And why isn't everyone surprised at this?

Third, there's a lot of people that seem determined to jump in and just call apple 'the bad guy'. I'm wondering if you have evidence of the entire company coercing or putting pressure on the SFPD to act 'legally illegally'. (sorry guys, the dude volunteered a search of his house, it's still legal). About the worst that could be said about this, is that no one told the guy that they were Apple employees. Yep. Lets hold Apple responsible for the police not upholding the law to all of your standards.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gasu E. Avatar
181 months ago
Fixed.

Let's be accurate.

A lot of allegations, and none so far from a reliable source.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
*LTD* Avatar
181 months ago
Quite a serious alleged breach of ethics and abuse of power.

Fixed.

Let's be accurate.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
*LTD* Avatar
181 months ago


Wait, I thought the haters were just blowing this out of proportion? I think I need an Apple apologist (ie LTD) to explain this latest development to me.

There's nothing to explain. Nothing happened yet.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
416049 Avatar
181 months ago
There's nothing to explain. Nothing happened yet.
Exactly so I don't get what the hype is about, if apple would have been smart they would have done this a lot more undercover...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Consultant Avatar
181 months ago
FACT:
The guy was at the bar the phone was "lost" (aka stolen).
The phone was traced to the guy's house.
The guy agreed to be searched.

Possibility:
Ie he stole it, he probably already got rid of it, after searching "how to sell iPhone prototype" and came upon the iPhone 4 prototype news.
Being a greedy bastard, he's now trying to get some money for it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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