When Ruby gets out of her car she leaves the car windows open, it is not raining. When she walks to the porch and knocks on the door it is now raining and her car windows are closed.
While the police can use evidence illegally obtained by citizens, if the evidence Ruby stole from inside the home were used, her committing the crime of burglary by entering the home to steal something would result in her being charged with a felony herself. The same is true of her theft of the watch.
In the kitchen towards the end of the film her dad days " I call the calvary if anyone messes with my girls". He must have meant cavalry unless he was very religious.
In a common TV cop error, detective perpetually in need of a shave is said to have "transferred" in to Washington from New York. Police officers do not laterally transfer from agencies in different states. They must meet police standards in the new state, and as such would start over as uniformed patrol officers, not a detective.
Ruby discovers evidence at the cliff top and photographs it, yet she fails to notify detective perpetually in need of a shave of the evidence. As an investigative reporter, she would have known to do so.