I was wrongly accused of commiting a crime today

[Captain Ice]

You may want to seriously consider not discussing anything about this case in a public forum.

Seconded.

 

[Sector 7]

As stated previously, NEVER volunteer anything to a police officer, except exercising your right to remain silent and requesting an attorney.

When I was a police officer in small South Carolina town, I was often surprised by people confessing... sometimes to crimes we hadn't been investigating. Perhaps, they were trying to "look innocent" by telling us to "go ahead, search my car... you won't find anything" and then we found drugs, weapons, etc. with which we had to charge them.

I never, personally, saw planted evidence, but I do know it happened. Such things are among the reasons I quit the police force.

 

[MacLeod]

^Actually that's strictly right Sector 7, it depends where you are in the world. for example in the UK the Police have to say the following when they arrest you

“You do not have to say anything. However, it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”

So actually remaing silent could adversely affect you.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

It helps that the UK has abolished the Reid Interrogation Technique when questioning a suspect.

 

[Drone]

Isn't this the same bloke that posted that interesting narrative about the possibility of finding love with a Certain Woman recently? I don't know. That one was pretty entertaining as it careened along, but this, uh, feels a bit stodgy.

 

[Bisz]

If you ask for a lawyer, all questions will stop.

That's US only. In Canada for example you have the right to remain silent, but even after you have requested a lawyer the police can continue to question you.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Yeah, as pointed out to me, the op is apparently Australian. I therefore clarified that my comments were mostly appropriate to people in the US. Each country has different rules.

I always clarify in the US that asking for a lawyer is key because it gives greater protections that just asking to remain silent. Although both are better than saying nothing.

 

[LordMudd]

I got a call from a guy claiming to be a federal agent wanting information with a caller ID "unavailable". When I challenged his credibility by telling him what police and bank personnel have told me, that you cannot prove your identity over the phone, he hung up, proving he was/is a liar. A real federal agent looking for information would have let me ramble on, waiting for me to hang myself.

CCC.

 

[HIjol]

Went to the post office to pick up something this afternoon and was headed to college from there. Heading to the bus stop, I'm approached by a policeman who wanted to search my bag etc, my thoughts were "well ok, I haven't done anything wrong" - pockets emptied etc, at this stage I'm told that someone with blue hair and a red bag (which I both had) snatched someones' bag at a school (which I did go past as it's on the way to the post office). Another officer very quickly appeared and the victims' description very quickly changed to "two-toned blue hair" - basically it seemed to me that they were using my description to fit the evidence and not the other way around, so I was arrested. You can imagine me shitting myself with their whole "just admit it now and it'll make your life easier"/"stop screwing us around and give me the truth" and such.

Taken into the station, strip-searched etc, and was trying to remember whether lawyers suggest you co-operate if innocent or whether anything beyond name, address and d.o.b should be met with "no comment" for the entire interview. However I had a bit of a panic attack in the cells, which was mistaken for a heart attack, which very quickly got me out of the cell and into hospital where I was discharged, no follow-up from the police other than that they may be contacting me. I must be very fortunate to have gotten out of an interview, a charge and being bailed etc.

I can't say that I've never stolen anything in my entire life but I certainly couldn't imagine committing a crime which would impact on another person!!! Being wrongly accused of something is probably someones' worst nightmare. Any advice? Not as in legal advice of course, as I feel reasonably well-grounded, and it's probably against forum rules anyway, but what should be going on in my mind in case the whole situation turns south?

...so sorry for the incredulity that must be going through your head and heart...in answer to your question asking for advice?...god, how I hate to say this, but...

Lawyer Up... (and, no, I have no connection or legal agenda)

...get legal counsel and at least find out what it all means and what can be/cannot be done...you need answers...good luck...

 

[hxclespaulplayer]

Isn't this the same bloke that posted that interesting narrative about the possibility of finding love with a Certain Woman recently? I don't know. That one was pretty entertaining as it careened along, but this, uh, feels a bit stodgy.

Yes, I am he.

I often get mistaken for a troll, probably because these unique life experiences I tend to have snowball out of control when I post them online, and by out of control I mean a feeling of "I can't possibly both reply to everybody and maintain an offline life".

I never did consider writing a book about my experiences or anything, but if the public have spoken, perhaps my life is indeed interesting enough for such a thing!

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Isn't this the same bloke that posted that interesting narrative about the possibility of finding love with a Certain Woman recently? I don't know. That one was pretty entertaining as it careened along, but this, uh, feels a bit stodgy.

Yes, I am he.

I often get mistaken for a troll, probably because these unique life experiences I tend to have snowball out of control when I post them online, and by out of control I mean a feeling of "I can't possibly both reply to everybody and maintain an offline life".

I never did consider writing a book about my experiences or anything, but if the public have spoken, perhaps my life is indeed interesting enough for such a thing!

Maybe instead of being framed by a one-armed man, in your story you were framed by a one-armed lady of the night. Get some synergy between the two stories.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Isn't this the same bloke that posted that interesting narrative about the possibility of finding love with a Certain Woman recently? I don't know. That one was pretty entertaining as it careened along, but this, uh, feels a bit stodgy.

Yes, I am he.

I often get mistaken for a troll, probably because these unique life experiences I tend to have snowball out of control when I post them online, and by out of control I mean a feeling of "I can't possibly both reply to everybody and maintain an offline life".

I never did consider writing a book about my experiences or anything, but if the public have spoken, perhaps my life is indeed interesting enough for such a thing!

Maybe instead of being framed by a one-armed man, in your story you were framed by a one-armed lady of the night. Get some synergy between the two stories.

If this were Stockholm, it would be easy to believe.

 

[Squiggy]

Isn't this the same bloke that posted that interesting narrative about the possibility of finding love with a Certain Woman recently? I don't know. That one was pretty entertaining as it careened along, but this, uh, feels a bit stodgy.

Yes, I am he.

I often get mistaken for a troll, probably because these unique life experiences I tend to have snowball out of control when I post them online, and by out of control I mean a feeling of "I can't possibly both reply to everybody and maintain an offline life".

I never did consider writing a book about my experiences or anything, but if the public have spoken, perhaps my life is indeed interesting enough for such a thing!

Maybe instead of being framed by a one-armed man, in your story you were framed by a one-armed lady of the night. Get some synergy between the two stories.

Or a three-armed cousin with Asbergers.