With the unrest throughout the country, it is important that everyone knows exactly what to do if they are ever arrested. No matter how unlikely you may feel it is that you would ever be arrested, you never know what could happen to you. Read on to learn what you should know about getting arrested and how to handle it. If you or a loved one is arrested, contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 to talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Stay Calm and Obey All Orders
Even if you believe that you have not committed a crime. Even if you are upset and believe that the arrest is lawful, stay calm. Obey the orders of the officer. The truth is that you do not have to have committed a crime to be arrested – the officer just needs to have probable cause to believe that you did. If you resist arrest then you are only adding an additional charge to what you could potentially be arrested for.
In fact, in some cases resisting arrest is the only charge a person faces. In others, a person may have been facing a minor citation or misdemeanor charge, but when resisting arrest is added to the charges it becomes the most serious of all charges. Do what the police say and trust your attorney to sort it out later.
Keep Yourself Safe
It is important to obey orders to prevent additional charges, but unfortunately it is also important to do so to keep yourself safe. If you resist arrest, you risk giving the officer reason to react with force. This could lead to serious injury or even death. Do not question the officer’s authority on the street. Let your attorney do that in a court of law where you are bodily safe from that officer.
Do Not Volunteer Any Information to the Police
You should give the police your personal information including your name, address, and telephone. Tell them nothing else. Once again, even if you are not guilty of any crime, it is best to remain silent. If the police try to question you, tell them that you require an attorney be present before you answer any questions. They are legally obligated to stop questioning you at that point.
The police can make all types of claims to try and get you to talk. They may say they know you are not guilty and they just need to “clear some things up.” They may say they have “routine questions” for you. Do not answer them. Trust us when we tell you that you need an attorney present. You can contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 now if you need a free legal consultation.
