Philadelphia, PA asked in Criminal Law for New Jersey

Q: A family friend whom I share no sexual relationship with hit me and vandalised my car. The cops locked him up for DV.

I told the cops at the scene that he has a severely bipolar mental disorder which he is supposed to take medication for but he got off of them and lost his mind and I was literally on my way to take him to a mental hospital for a medical evaluation when he freaked out and broke my windshield with his bare hands then pulled my hair. I had a bruise on my forehead from when the windshield broke. I don't want to press charges against him cause he is like my little brother and I know he was out of his mind. He kept calling me Bianca and that's not even my name. I repeatedly told the police all of this when they showed up on the scene but the police still locked him up for domestic assault and criminal mischief and pressed charges without my involvement. What do I do and why did they charge him with domestic assault?

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2 Lawyer Answers

A: It is a crime to hit and destroy someone property, that is why they arrested him. If the police saw him rob a bank at gun point and then the bank says he can have the money it would be the same thing. What you can do to help him is to help him is to hire a good criminal lawyer to put together a defense for him. It won't be cheap, but it could keep him out of jail. Also you may want to hire a lawyer to help his lawyer to get the best result. When two lawyers are involved it ups the chances for a dismissal. Most of us criminal lawyers offer a free in office consultation, I suggest you start with that.

A: The police were presented with probable cause that an act of domestic violence occurred. They did what they are required to do under the circumstances. Hire him a qualified lawyer. He may be eligible for a mental health diversion. But without proper represntation he will. It get the help he needs.

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