When someone is arrested the police often take whatever is in their pockets or purses or cars and put the things into evidence even if the stuff has no relevance to the charged crime.
The police take money, cell phones, computers, jewelry, etc., into evidence when people are arrested. If it's on your person, in your purse, or in your car, it will usually get taken.
There's a difference, however, between putting the item into EVIDENCE - which means it allegedly goes into an evidence locker in the police station and SEIZED which means the police have taken it and intend to KEEP IT.
Either way, there are legal procedures to get your stuff back. If the property is in evidence, a lawyer can file a MOTION FOR RETURN OF PROPERTY and argue to the judge that the evidence is unrelated to the crime, is actually your property, and was not the "fruit of criminal activity."
If the property is SEIZED - usually as the result of an arrest for a drug crime - you will be given notice of the forfeiture proceeding. If your property is SEIZED, it is highly advisable for you to hire an attorney to help you. Otherwise you'll be alone walking into a courtroom with an experienced county attorney who does forfeiture proceedings all the time and a judge who knows him well.
In Tampa last week - a judge gave back $220,000 in cash to a man charged with money laundering in connection with a bust made on a pain clinic.
The judge said that the police had no probable cause to believe the pain clinic was involved in criminal activity and gave the money back.
Don't forget that if you feel like your property was taken from you without a reason and you want it back. CALL US TODAY
