Paris Hilton's search dispute

Sep 1, 2010, 5:00 GMT

Paris Hilton was illegally searched by police, it has been claimed.

The 29-year-old heiress - who was arrested on Friday night (27.08.10) on suspicion of cocaine possession - was reportedly taken from the car she was travelling in with boyfriend Cy Waits and taken into the nearby Wynn Las Vegas hotel, where drugs were found in her handbag, which insiders claim could make police evidence against her inadmissible.

A source said: "Cops discovered the cocaine inside the security offices where Paris was taken. Because Paris was taken away from the scene where the car was pulled over, this could potentially be an illegal search of a person.

"Las Vegas Metro didn't follow standard procedures when Paris was arrested and her lawyer will be talking to the District Attorney about this."

Paris is also said to have insisted that the cocaine wasn't hers, as she had borrowed the bag from a friend.

The source added to RadarOnline.com: "Paris says she changed the purse she was carrying at the last minute because the one she had didn't coordinate with the rest of her outfit the way she wanted. She says she borrowed a friend's purse because it matched better."

It has also been reported that the hotel's security cameras captured the incident, which Paris' lawyer plans to use as evidence to defend her.

A source said: "The search of Paris and arrest was all captured on tape, which could help her tremendously. Her lawyer David Chesnoff is going to claim it was an illegal search."

Neither Paris - who was arrested twice but not charged for drug-related offences earlier this year - or her lawyer have spoken directly about the incident, but her attorney has urged people not to jump to conclusions.

He said in a statement: "This matter will be dealt with in the courts, not in the media, and I encourage people not to rush to judgment until all of the facts have been dealt with in a court of law."