Q: Should my son speak to detectives about car break-ins in our neighborhood?
My 18-year-old son was out late at night in our neighborhood looking for scrap metal when a police officer pulled him over, mentioning recent car break-ins and thefts. The police searched his car and found nothing. Now, a detective wants to come with a partner to our house to ask him if he saw anything suspicious. The detective did not explicitly say he isn't a suspect, only that she isn't saying he did anything wrong. Should my son speak with the detectives, or is it advisable for him to consult a lawyer first?
A: If I were your son, I'd tell the detectives that I'd be happy to speak to them if they first put in writing that I'm not suspected of any crime, with the writing signed and dated by the detective. If they would refuse to do that, I would then say that I am not going to speak to them. OTHER ATTORNEYS MIGHT HAVE OTHER OPINIONS ABOUT THIS.
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