Baldwin turns over cell phone in ‘Rust’ shooting probe

Alec Baldwin has turned over his cell phone so it can be searched for evidence in the criminal investigation into the fatal “Rust” shooting.

On Friday, the star and producer of the Western — who fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Oct. 21 — provided his cell phone to sheriff ’s deputies in New York, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff ’s spokesperson Juan Rios and Baldwin’s attorney.

Suffolk County Sheriff ’s investigators in New York will review the contents of Baldwin’s phone to search for text messages, emails, photos or other data that may be relevant to New Mexico’s Santa Fe County Sheriff ’s investigation into the accidental shooting, Rios said.

As recently as Thursday, sheriff ’s investigators expressed frustration at the delay in obtaining Baldwin’s cell phone.

New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies — Santa Fe County’s top law enforcement officer, who is overseeing the case — had stepped in to lead negotiations with Baldwin and his Los Angeles attorney, Aaron Dyer, to allow Baldwin’s phone to be searched.

The process was complicated because Baldwin didn’t provide his phone voluntarily, according to an affidavit for the search warrant. In addition, the actor had returned to New York, where he has a home.

“Alec voluntarily provided his phone to the authorities this morning so they can finish their investigation,” Dyer said in a statement.

Santa Fe County Magistrate Judge David Segura authorized a search warrant Dec. 16 allowing local law enforcement to search Baldwin’s iPhone for evidence that may prove valuable to their investigation of the fatal shooting that also injured the film’s director, Joel Souza.

The search warrant issued by Segura was enforceable only in New Mexico, according to local attorneys, leading to the behind-the-scenes effort to work out a consent agreement. The parties worked out an agreement over what data could be taken from the phone, Rios said.

Last weekend, Baldwin posted a video on Instagram, denying that he was trying to impede the investigation. “Any suggestion that I am not complying with requests or orders or demands or search warrants about my phone, that is bulls—, that’s a lie,” Baldwin said in the video.

Last week, the movie’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, sued the weapons provider, Seth Kenney, alleging he supplied a mismarked box of ammunition containing live rounds to the set. Kenney has denied supplying any live ammunition.