Sarasota Police arrest 2 men in a pot bust called “Operation Hammerhead.” Police charged 66 year old Anthony Snead and 38 year old Andy Charlton with possession of cannabis with intent to sell. Police Chief Bernadette DiPino says the bust came from an anonymous tip that led to a 6 month surveillance operation, including wiretapping phones. On April 2rd detectives watched Charlton deliver a box to Snead’s home. That’s when they executed a search warrant and made the arrests.
Probable Cause, Search Warrants, and Wiretaps
Just because the police spent 6 months watching these men does not mean they have a legitimate case in court. Wiretapping is one of the most legally complicated ways of investigating alleged crime and that’s why it’s rarely used as an investigative technique. There are too many loopholes that could lead to dropped charges. Police must follow very strict rules and regulations about wiretapping or the evidence can be considered ineligible in court. If the wiretap investigation is flawed, then police may not have probable cause to arrest, search, or seize anything.
If you’ve been arrested in a case involving wiretapping or search and seizure, your best defense is to say nothing and hire an experienced criminal defense attorney, like Mark Zimmerman, right away. Mark has helped clients get charges dropped because the investigation or arrest violated their Fourth Amendment rights. It’s a complicated area of the law, so it’s extremely important to have a board certified criminal defense attorney like Mark Zimmerman on your side. To reach mark for a case evaluation, fill out our online contact form or call (941) 364-8503.
