Should I be worried?

[chipster]

A friend of mine's house was recently raided by police because of his roommate's irresponsibility. He informed me that the police "scanned" his phone. He and I have exchanged text messages recently about some relatively petty criminal activity. Is it possible for the police to get a search warrant or take any action against me based on text messages that we have exchange?

 

[CdwJava]

A friend of mine's house was recently raided by police because of his roommate's irresponsibility. He informed me that the police "scanned" his phone. He and I have exchanged text messages recently about some relatively petty criminal activity. Is it possible for the police to get a search warrant or take any action against me based on text messages that we have exchange?

Yes, it is possible. How possible might depend on what else they know or can articulate, and what the content of the messages might be. If you guys texted about a specific offense or where the loot from an offense was, then they very likely can act on those messages if they can corroborate that a crime occurred.

Here's your chance to straighten up and go straight. Stop breaking the law ... it really is not that hard.

 

[startedone]

relatively petty criminal activity

what you consider "petty" may not be seen by everyone as such. If contacted by the police, mums the word...

 

[chipster]

If I am contacted I think I can deal with the situation. I guess my real concern is an officer showing up at my door with a search warrant and ripping my house apart. If any action is being taken, will I be notified or called in for questioning? Does a text message justify a warrant?

 

[CdwJava]

If I am contacted I think I can deal with the situation. I guess my real concern is an officer showing up at my door with a search warrant and ripping my house apart. If any action is being taken, will I be notified or called in for questioning? Does a text message justify a warrant?

As I said, it might. Since we have no way to know what was contained in the text message and what the cops might know or believe, we have no way to know whether the texts will provide enough info to support an affidavit for a search warrant.

Oh, and chances are they will not telegraph their intent to serve a search warrant on you. You may never know it's coming until they are there.

 

[chipster]

Well, that's all the convincing I need. I don't wanna go down that road. I'm cleaning up my act and hoping that my place doesn't get ransacked in the meantime. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[HighwayMan]

Maybe it's also a good time to move out. Not to avoid a search warrant but to avoid further "problems" with your room mate.