Woman consents to police search of her home -- Police proceed to lock her out for three days, fail to find anything

...police decided to “freeze” the home — with officers posted outside and yellow crime tape around the property — until they could get a warrant to do a more thorough, intrusive search.

That warrant wasn’t obtained until three days later and family members weren’t allowed to go home in the meantime, despite making it clear they wanted to.

“I was humiliated,” the mother testified. “We just felt stripped of all rights.”

A second, four-hour search using specially trained dogs also failed to turn up any evidence of the handgun or other stolen police items.

Two officers involved in the investigation were called to testify, but couldn’t specifically explain what legal authority police had to “freeze” the home until they obtained a warrant.

Felipe Mendes, a lawyer for police, argued the situation amounted to a “nuisance” at worst and should result in damages, if at all, of less than $1,000.