When someone is arrested for a drug crime, specifically a drug distribution crime, the officers will seize evidence. Notably, they will take any drugs, scales, pipes, grinders and loose cash. They will also be looking for any sort of record keeping, such as a client list or a ledger. All of this should be expected.
However, it might come as a surprise to some dealers that the officers will seize computers or cell phones which may have contact information in them. This is not a big deal when the cell phone is a cheap free-with-contract model. But this can become a very big deal when the phone is a $400 iPhone.
Officers will seize a cell phone specifically to look at call logs and text messages.
Text messages are a very clear indicator of drug sales, even if supposedly sneaky code words are used. And as I wrote, the throw-away cell phone is not as big of a deal as the a new smart phone.
In Iowa City, these items will be kept in evidence as the case proceeds through the court. Once the case is finalized, the items will remain in evidence in case of an appeal.
However, even after the period of the appeal has passed, the items will not be returned. They will eventually be destroyed.
That makes sense in regard to the drugs and paraphernalia themselves.
But the iPhone is simply destroyed.
So don’t let your fancy smart phone fall victim to destruction at the hands of the I.C.P.D.