Judge grants SFPD search warrant
to examine Tiger victims' phones, car

By Mike Aldux

January 16, 2008

The San Francisco Police Department yesterday was granted a search warrant to examine the car and two cell phones owned by the surviving victims of the Christmas Day mauling at San Francisco Zoo, said Sgt. Neville Gittens.

A San Francisco judge ruled that police have the legal right to search the property.

A police investigation will partly seek to determine whether a 250-pound Siberian tiger was taunted when it escaped its grotto on Christmas Day and fatally mauled Carlos Sousa Jr., 17, and injured brothers Amritpal and Kulbir Dhaliwal, 19 and 23, of San Jose.

The Dhaliwals' attorney Mark Geragos has maintained the boys did not taunt the tiger. City lawyers have said they expect the attack victims to sue the city and zoo.

On Wednesday, a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge will preside over a hearing to determine whether the San Francisco city attorney's office will be allowed to inspect the Dhaliwals' cell phones and car for possible evidence, allegedly pointing to alcohol and/or drug use by the victims at the zoo, according to the county's city attorney's office.

Though legal experts say evidence of taunting may help to reduce damages awarded in a civil suit, public safety is the sole responsibility of the San Francisco Zoo.

Luke Thomas contributed to this report.

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