Police investigations can come in a wide variety of forms. Law enforcement may often open an investigation after receiving some form of tip. Some investigations may take months or more. However, many criminal cases arise after a brief probe into some allegation raised by someone contacting police. Nonetheless, constitutional issues may arise in lengthy or brief investigations. But, constitutional principles can involve complex legal analysis.

We all know that cellphone use has become ubiquitous in our culture. Wednesday, a person reportedly contacted law enforcement in Southeast Missouri about text messages that law enforcement claims raised suspicion. The person told officials with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office that a male had sent text messages to the person, which allegedly included an offer to sell Xanax. Law enforcement says that the text messages included an invitation for the receiver of the message to drop by and pick up the drugs.

Authorities say that the person who reported the messages also provided the name of the person who allegedly sent the texts. It is not clear from a media report how that person knew who had allegedly sent the texts. Deputies claim that they decided to follow the text message invite to the home of a man in Walnut Ridge, Missouri.

Deputies claim that a man briefly stepped out of the Walnut Ridge home when law enforcement arrived. However, officials claim that when the man noticed that deputies were present, he retreated back into his home. Deputies apparently followed the man into his residence. Authorities claim that the deputies saw the man trying to hide Xanax pills and pot in a couch.

The Walnut Ridge man was arrested on a series of drug charges. He faces allegations of unlawful possession of marijuana, delivery of Xanax, possession of paraphernalia, and accusations of fleeing and resisting related to the visit from law enforcement.

Source: KAIT 8, “Wrong number leads to man’s arrest on drug charges,” Patricia D. Davis, May 16, 2013