Some of the responses on this thread kinda suprise me. Lots of people telling each other to get a lawyer, don't talk to the cops, don't talk about the crimes you commit, the police are out to get you, they will make you incrimminate yourself etc. Maybe I am missing something............but, I don't commit crimes to start with, and have never had to worry about incrimminating myself, or telling people about my crimes. Seems like a lot of people advising each other on how to get around the laws and courts........instead of living within the law to start with.
Excuse me Crazylove, but did you know that innocent people are arrested for crimes they did not commit? I was arrested a few years back because a nasty woman claimed that I had held a 3 foot sword to her neck, choked her almost unconscious, and threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone about it. Two patrol cars ambushed me in my driveway, the four officers arrested me at gun point; "stop or we'll kill you". They almost broke my left arm throwing me in the patrol car, despite my warning that I had a bad rotator cuff in that shoulder. At the PD a Sargent informed me of my rights, read the woman's complaint, and asked me if I wanted to make a formal statement without an attorney present. I asked him two questions: Did they have the sword? and Did they have any witnesses supporting the woman's complaint? He replied in the negative to both questions. At this point I had been ambushed, had four men threaten me with firearms, my left arm hurt like Hades, all on the say so of a crazy lady with no corroborating evidence. The only person that could possibly help them successfully prosecute me was, ME! The Constitution tells me that I have the right to remain silent, that if I gave up the right to remain silent anything I said could be used against me, that I had the right to have an attorney present during questioning. Which of my Civil Rights should I toss away at this point? Now, I had one nasty argument with that woman, but I never touched her, never threatened her, did not have a sword (?) or any other weapon, there were three witnesses present, and the only violence was when she hit me; twice. I had already experienced the polite and understanding ways of the PD, so I decided to pass on the offer of making a statement. They let me keep my cell phone in the tank, so I called my Mom and a very good criminal lawyer. It was late on a Friday night, so seeing a Judge would not happen until Monday at the soonest. So, I decided to go to jail. I ended up spending the time in the Medical unit, because of my diabetes and other medical problems, so it was kind of like Motel 6 with Sheriff's Deputies. I was scheduled to see the Judge on Tuesday. My attorney came to see me on Saturday, and again on Monday, and had the statements of the three witnesses, which all supported me. He also had the crazy ladies mental health and arrest records which he had provided to the DA. There were 212 men in the big pen in the basement of the Courthouse on Tuesday, and I sat there until there were three of us left. Then a Marshal came in, called out our names, and said "released, no charges filed".
I was arrested again because I fit the description of the "wheel man" of a team of bank robbers that had been working this area. I really thought they were going to kill me that time, especially when they found my CCW. They hauled me downtown, and I was in the tank for 4 hours until my Attorney arrived. By then they had already realized that I was not the ONE, but having a friendly face show up is worth spending a few dollars.
So, people can and do get arrested for things they have not done. I make it a policy to keep my mouth shut and call a good lawyer.
Dr. Raoul Duke
Gonzo Forever
