[rolling_stone]

If there was a dead person in my house or yard, I would call the police and my attorney not necessarily in that order.(note watch all the Rockford Files!) That is why I would probably let them check my house (as I said with my attorney present) with a dog, because if they or I found something, I would be unable to change that fact. If there was a body, I would not try to hide it but I would also not volunteer any information prior to obtaining legal counsel and having time to reflect on my thoughts so they could be presented as accurately and completely as possible. I would make mental notes of as much as possible at that time. Talking on the spur of the moment might cause misunderstandings, and I would not have the benefit of an impartial witness and tape recorder to accurately record my statements, not to mention the stress at that instant.

If the police had questioned me as to my whereabouts at a particular time and place I would decline to answer, as that would indicate suspicion of wrongdoing. If I suspected I was under suspicion, I would request an attorney and remain silent. Requesting an attorney cuts off their questioning right then and there, Mirandized or not. If one was married, it would be wise to immediately advise their spouse and children to remain silent, it is amazing how statements can be "misunderstood" at a later time. Who is a favorite target of Investigators, the young and nieve, and wording of questions can sometimes elicit the desired answers that are not exactly correct! I also would not worry about anything I told the police as I wouldn't give them the time of day unless I was the one reporting a crime. I think you should reread what I posted as my cooperation would be limited. I will give you another hint, when the police ask you to come out of your house and talk to them, it is probably to arrest you, in your house, with a few exceptions including hot pursuit, they will need an arrest warrant..if they don't come in to get you, why make it easy on them...they probably won't go to the trouble to get a warrant if its a shaky or minor charge being used just to drag you in and question you...in the meantime you can scrounge bail money if they come back LOL.....

[nicmarlo]

I know that cooperating with the police reduces your suspicion. Generally, I have great respect for people in law enforcement--I know many police officers, district attorneys, probation officers, etc. I also know, have experienced myself, and have seen, certain individuals in those capacities that, being human, will say and do whatever they want to to try to get a suspect to admit something. I know, for instance, in New York, a police officer can elicit statements by making misleading promises. Okay. You want the bad guy, he's a creep. Being up front and honest with creeps, on the one hand, seems dumb, you're obviously not going to get them to "cave in" by saying something like: "we're not making any deals with you...you just need to tell us what you've done with the body (or whatever)." There's no incentive for the guy to talk or admit anything. On the other hand, telling someone a known untruth (i.e., we'll get the D.A. to reduce the charges against you (or whatever)," to encourage the guy to talk, doesn't seem right, either. I'm no criminal; I'm sure I'd probably cooperate with the police, because of that. But it still is in the back of my mind that I'm jeopardizing my rights and liberties by talking.

I was once pulled over for "going through a red light" in Buena Park, California. I had a friend driving two cars behind me. (The cop didn't know this.) I entered the intersection when it was yellow, not red. The cop was parked in a gas station, watching the intersection. His view of me was obstructed by a big truck (I think a 4-wheeler), so he couldn't actually see what color the light was when my car entered the intersection. I was in the first lane, the truck was in the second lane (lane closes to the curb). I fought the ticket. The cop lied under oath about which lane my car was in, he said I was in the second lane, the lane actually occupied by the truck. I had my friend come to fight the ticket. He saw when I entered the intersection it was yellow. But since the cop lied, I had my witness refute the cop's testimony about where my car was. The judge threw it out. And this was just over a moving violation. If a cop is going to lie about that kind of trivial incident......(and I do know of others), it makes me cautious is all I'm saying.