Constitutional Law, Media, Torts

Police Assist Apple Security In Search For iPhone 5

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

It appears that a prototype of the new iPhone 5 was lost at a bar in San Francisco. Can you say déjà vu all over again? Apple was able to track the device to a residence in San Francisco and four San Francisco police officers accompanied two Apple employees to the residence.

“The two Apple (security) employees met with the resident and then went into the house to look for the lost item. The Apple employees did not find the lost item and left the house,” the police statement said.

The resident, Sergio Calderón, 22, of Bernal Heights,  says that six officials claiming to be San Francisco Police officers questioned him and searched his family’s home for the missing device. Nothing was found.

Calderón, an American citizen, claims that the officers threatened his relatives about their immigration status. Anxious  to cooperate, Calderón allowed a search of his house, car, and computer by the two Apple employees while the San Francisco police officers waited outside.

Upon leaving, one of the Apple employees gave Calderón his phone number with an offer of $300 if he would return the iPhone 5. The phone number was traced to Anthony Colon, a former San Jose Police sergeant who is currently employed by Apple as a “senior investigator.”

Since the story broke, Anthony Colon’s LinkedIn profile has been taken down. However, screenshots of his profile have been cached.

What kind of idiots are in charge at Apple? These kind of tactics are screaming out for a civil suit against Apple by Calderón. This situation could cost Apple a lot of money and doesn’t do their brand reputation any good. This situation is fast becoming a major embarrassment to Apple.

It is unlikely that any criminal charges will be filed. The SFPD would then be in collusion with the criminal activity. Who in charge at SFPD approved the use of police officers to accompany the Apple investigators on a “knock and talk?”

H/T: SF Weekly, CNN, Reuters, Wired, TPM.

13 thoughts on “Police Assist Apple Security In Search For iPhone 5”

  1. “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.” -Steve Jobs

  4. Apple has just issued a press release saying that Steve Jobs has died.

    No details yet available.

  6. The SFPD has now back peddled. The chief has said they were involved but only as backup. He said the four officers were plainclothes and they stayed outside the apartment, they were not privy to any conversations. I find the PD side of the story hard to accept since they lied the first time.

  8. The SFPD made a public statement, this search was news to them and they have no investigations about a missing iPhone. Nobody from the police, at least offically, participated in the search. They said, Apple has not contacted them about a missing or stolen phone.

    Either the cops were fakes or they were doing it off the record for Apple, probably as a favor or moonlighting. SFPD said they would need an offical complaint to investigate it but I suspect they are already asking questions internally. It is a huge blunder on Apple’s part.

  9. “Sounds like the police and the corporate giant have merged. I wonder what you call that?”

    Raff,

    Corporate Fascism perhaps?

  10. Has there been an iPhone prototype that has not been stolen/leaked/”accidentally left”? I think Apple has been doing this since the first one since they all have been “compromised” just before they are released.
    “Once is accident, twice is coincidence and thrice is enemy action”. Wasting law enforcement time on a PR stunt should be a crime

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