They did call Apple first and try to return it, they were told that it was probably a chineese knockoff and that it wasn't Apples. In fact they called a few times and were told the same thing.
Once the report was posted online The phone was requested back by Apple and Gizmodo promptly returned the phone to Apple.
Then a few days AFTER the phone was returned the cops raided Jason Chens house by kicking down his door. The kid wasnt running a meth lab in his house he is a tech nerd excited to break the news on what sounds like a very exciting phone.
Did they need to break down his door? What was the emergency? If there was evidence it was already a week old and chances are he got rid of any offending evidence before then.
The raid itself was in violation of the search order as it was done at nighttime (and the nighttime search box on the warrent wasnt check) and also was in violation of numerous California state and Federal laws. In California bloggers are protected by the same laws that protect journalists. If they wanted to search his computers they should have suponeaed them, not use a battering ram to break into his house.
Now California laws not withstanding I have heard some people say that Apple does not consider Chen a member of the press. If this is the case then why has Apple invited Chen to attend its PRESS CONFRENCES all these years? By inviting him to these PRESS CONFRENCES Apple themselves admit that he is a member of the PRESS.
The entire event up until the cops breaking down Jason Chens door was POSITIVE free press for Apple. The Gizmodo report was talked about all over the news, every network covered the story and it got people excited about the new Apple product.
But what is happening now is just plain WRONG. Jason can't even work because he dosen't have his computers. The search for evidence on his machine has been halted while the DA tries to figure out is Chen is a member of the press or not and is protected by the state and federal shield laws. The police department was asked when Chen would get his equipment back and the response was "When we feel like it" and that getting him his equipment back was not a high priority for them. (Yet it was a high enough priority for them to ambush his house and kick in the door.)
I urge everyone today to go to Gizmodo.COM and check out this video from Jon Stewart last night. Jon says it all and puts it in a way that only Jon Stewart can.
Jon Stewart Slams Apple Over Its Handling of Gizmodo Case - Jon Stewart - Gawker.TV
This entire event has soured a lot of people on Apple and rightfully so. Its now up to Steve Jobs to pull his head out of his ass and take a look at whats going on here and make a wrong a right. Until then to many Apple will look like the big bully on the block all because one of their employees lost their iPhone.