As they were arrested, MPD officers seized their phones and other items. Though the protesters did not face any charges and were, in Katsas' words, "quickly released," MPD retained their phones for around a year. Some of the plaintiffs had to wait over 14 months to get their property back.
I hear details like that often in stories about arrests and search warrants, especially with IT equipment. The police claim everything in site and only return it long after you have had to buy replacements—maybe years later. The people affected may have to go through a lengthy legal procedure to get anything returned.
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