Court hears Fla. case on tracking suspect phones

MIAMI (AP) — A federal appeals court in South Florida is considering whether investigators are required to obtain a warrant before obtaining cellphone records detailing a suspect's movements.

A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals scheduled oral arguments Friday for Quartavious Davis. He was sentenced to 162 years in prison as part of a violent armed robbery gang. Key evidence was records showing he was near cell towers close to the crimes.

The American Civil Liberties Union says investigators should have to show probable cause of a crime and get a judge to issue a warrant before obtaining such personal information. Prosecutors in Davis' case got an order, but did not show probable cause.

The Supreme Court in 2012 required warrants for tracking devices on suspects' vehicles.