I work from home, about 2 hours ago a man came to my door saying someone who said his family or whatever lives here stole his dogs. I’m thrown off obviously, I say idk who that is I don’t know what he’s talking about, blah blah blah. I call the police to ask for special attention because some people said he may have been trying to gauge if I live alone or something, so I’m just scared. I go back to work, and while I’m in a fucking meeting with my TL like 30 minutes later, I hear a very long, hard knock on my door. I look at my ring camera and it’s the police. Four cops.
They’re now saying that same guy said someone stole his dogs, he lives here, a woman who vaguely (race wise) fits my description was with him, a bunch of shit. I’m at WORK. I’m not doing shit. I don’t have any fucking dogs and I don’t run with thieves. Point being: NOPE. So they take down my info and say a detective will be calling me because it’s now an investigation. Great.
What do I do? Internet says speak to a lawyer and answer no questions if or when the detective calls. What do I say if he does? I’m scared and frazzled and just need some guidance. Thank you.
Location: MI
Comments
I don’t think this warrants hiring a lawyer proactively. But certainly do not speak to the police again about this.
If the detective calls, simply say, “I am not comfortable speaking to you without a lawyer”. If they arrest you or charge you, hire a lawyer and 100% do not speak about the case with anyone else.
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Don’t talk to the police without a lawyer is universal advice if your suspected of something. Universal. Doesn’t matter if your innocent.
Nonetheless, there has to be a rule of reason exception. if you don’t have any dogs in the house, and your very very confident they won’t find something that could be mistaken for dog food, dog toys, you get the idea, then probably the easiest way to be done with it is to talk to the detective and if need be let them in.
Do not talk to the police. Do not let them in your house.
People will advise not talking to the police. Theirs two reasons for this. One anything you say can be used against you in any charges they may want to bring. Two, it very rarely helps.
I will give the unpopular opinion. If you truly did not do anything, writing down your side, which could be as simple as I have no dogs, don’t know this person who stole his dogs is, and were at work or doing whatever when they say this happened.
Do this, and just stick to it for any questions. “Well he said you were the person.” your response should not be hes lying or anything angry just REPEAT every time they ask a variation “I don’t have those dogs, don’t know that person, Dont know what to tell you.”
Now to be clear, if theirs any evidence you have the dogs or anything like that. No statment from you would help in anyway. Just lawyer up, it does not make you look guilty. It makes you look legally knowledgeable(With maybe a pinch to hide from cops who are naturally suspicious of everything).