SFPD Begins Investigation On Missing iPhone 5 Case
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) are now launching an internal investigation into how its police officers came to assisting Apple in the hunt for a missing iPhone 5 prototype without filing a police report. It's believed that four officers accompanying two Apple security guards, entered a home in San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood to search for the device.
The incident was first reported by CNET, which recounted the story playing like a repeat of last year's high-profile case of the missing iPhone 4 prototype that was accidentally left at a bar. Similarly, the iPhone 5 prototype was left at a "Tequila lounge" where it's believed to have been picked up and sold on Craigslist. Reportedly, Apple employees were able to electronically trace the prototype to a residence in San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood.
This is when it all gets very sketchy. It's alleged that two Apple employees escorted by four SFPD officers then went to the home, where resident Sergio Calderón insisted not having any knowledge of the device. He agreed to let the group search his residence after feeling threatened by questions regarding the citizenship status of himself and fellow residents. However, the group was not able to find the device.
Following CNET's report, the controversy began as the SFPD was not able to find any police reports regarding the incident, which suggested that either the entire story was false or something rather suspicious took place, such as perhaps Apple employees impersonating police officers. But, the SFPD later admitted that officers were indeed involved after they learned from Apple representatives that the Apple employees had called Mission Police station directly and then worked with officers in the Ingleside Police district.
However, Lt. Troy Dangerfield of the SFPD says that the police officers did not enter the home and were not involved in the search. The full internal investigation launched today will hopefully clear up more details.
[via CNET]