> reviewed and even verified their documents (called the numbers on the form to confirm their authorization)

Apparently there's more to this story. From the original article https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/11/how-a...

> Another reason for doubt: one of the people listed as a contact on the get-out-of-jail-free letter didn’t answer the deputies’ calls, while another said he didn’t believe the men had permission to conduct physical intrusions.

It's actually kind of amazing that the police first let them go after the official contact on the form said they were not authorized to intrude in the building.