What If the Police Issue a Warrant for Your Arrest?
Hearing that there is a warrant out for your arrest never feels good. When you get the news, you may not know what it means and what you should do.
What Does It Mean When Police Have a Warrant Out?
A warrant for someone’s arrest is a legal document allowing police or other law enforcement to arrest someone. Police officers have obtained the warrant from a judge by showing probable cause that the person committed a crime. In other words, the police are looking for that person so that they can ask questions and charge him or her with violating the law.
Usually, police cannot arrest someone in public or in their home without probable cause. Sometimes, police officers actually see someone committing a crime, or they gather from the circumstances that a crime has likely been committed (by observing a DUI driver, for example). Other times, police find evidence that a crime has been committed but do not know where the suspect is. The police present the evidence to a judge, who determines whether to issue a warrant. Then the police can spread the word about the warrant until law enforcement can find and arrest the suspect.
What Should You Do If a Warrant Is Out and You Hear About It?
If the warrant is for your arrest, you should consider turning yourself in to law enforcement after you memorize a lawyer’s contact information. It is a very good idea to have a lawyer present while the police question you. If you do not turn yourself in after hearing about the warrant, you may face additional charges such as evading arrest.
If the warrant is for someone else and you know where he or she is, think twice about concealing this information from the police. You could be charged with aiding and abetting or harboring a suspect. However, you may want to make sure this person has a lawyer’s phone number to get legal representation if arrested.
To learn more about warrants in criminal cases, seek out the local DUI attorney who cares about seeking the best outcomes for his clients. Clint Patterson, Esq., of Patterson Law Firm, a former Tulsa prosecutor, is familiar with the Oklahoma warrant requirements and other crucial state laws. Schedule a case evaluation by visiting Patterson Law Firm online or calling Clint’s office at (918) 550-9175.