If you have received a visit or a call from any police officer, or they have left a business card for you, the best thing to do is also the simplest: Do Not Talk to the Police. The only exception is a polite statement such as: “I will not answer any questions you have for me, thank you.” If it makes you more comfortable, you could say instead: “The attorney, Eric Derleth, told me not to say anything. Sorry.” Even better, if you have time, you should contact Eric ahead of time so you can hire him and add: “My attorney, Eric Derleth, said you can call him if you have any questions for me. Thank you, Officer.”
If you are suddenly confronted by the police, like if you are pulled over while driving or they show up at your house for any reason, you still have the same rights not to talk if you so choose. Most often, trying to explain yourself to the police does more harm than good, and it is universally better to say nothing or close to it. If the police already think you’ve committed a crime, you are probably going to be arrested anyway … keep your mouth shut to avoid giving them even more evidence to use against you later. After hundreds of cases, Eric Derleth is sure that a criminal case is almost always easier to defend when the defendant did not make a statement to police.
It’s safer to assume the police are lying to you … the Supreme Court of the United States made clear the police can lie and trick you. The police do not “Just Want to Hear Your Side of the Story” and their insistence on getting you to talk is not “Just to Help Me Clear This Up”. Confessions and ill-considered statements just make their job much, much easier. Simply SHUT UP! And call Eric Derleth right away.
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