Doesn't "attempted" imply "tried and failed"?
Attempted implies they tried to bully their way and the team members advised the police to obtain a warrent.
Translation: The police knew they had no case, they tried to intimidate the college kids, they failed to intimidate THEREFORE now the police/DA will insinuate they were hiding something.
(vs the DA who is perplexed by this whole constitution and "rule of law" concept.)