Activist sues San Francisco Police Department after warrantless search of cell phone

A San Francisco activist, a local attorney, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California collectively filed a civil lawsuit against the City and County of San Francisco and its police chief, alleging that the activist's rights were violated when a police officer warrantlessly searched his cellphone at the time of his arrest in January 2012.

Bob Offer-Westort of the Coalition on Homelessness, says in court documents that the suit stems from an incident where he was non-violently engaging in civil disobedience to protest a new city ordinance that made it illegal to camp in public places without permission. A spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department said that the department does not comment on ongoing lawsuits. The court documents, filed this week, charge San Francisco and its police department with violating Offer-Westort’s privacy, conducting an unlawful search and seizure, and violating his free speech under the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, among other allegations.