Imagine the Dallas police pull over a car on the highway. The police demand that the man in the car get out of the vehicle and submit to a breathalyzer test. After taking the field sobriety test, the police accuse the man of having an illegal substance in the car. The man denies the claim. The police then sternly request that the man consent that they search the car. After a few minutes of pressure, the man relents. The police then search the car for drugs. The police do a thorough check while the man waits. They check under the seats, in the glove compartment, the compartment between the bucket seats in the front, the trunk, and anywhere else. After the search, they take some items and label them so that they can be tested in a lab. The police then make an arrest and place the man inside the police car. In the meantime, a tow truck comes to the site and impounds the car. The truck tows the car to a police impound lot for further instructions.
During this time, the man is getting nervous. The police seemingly pulled him over for a mere traffic violation and now it has turned into a hassle. This will be a long night for the man.
The police take the man to the Dallas police headquarters. They move the man into a holding cell with several other men who also look scared. With nothing to do, the men just sit inside the holding cell waiting to be called.
After a few hours, the police call the man’s name and request that he step out of the holding cell. They re-apply handcuffs and demand that he cooperates with their investigation. First, they bring him to a small room where they demand that he change into a prison jumpsuit and place his clothing in a bag. Next, the police bring him to a more secluded section of the building and sit him down. The room is dimly lit. The police remove his handcuffs and tell him to sit.
The police introduce themselves and request that he cooperates fully with the investigation. They ask the man basic identifying questions. They read him his Miranda rights and again plead with him to fully cooperate with investigation.
They start asking him questions and are getting only one-word answers. At this point, a bell goes off that startles the man. Afterward, the police questioning starts getting tougher and more intense. One officer expresses frustration with the man’s answers while the other keeps a serious but stable demeanor. This further frightens the man, who provides the police with more and more information. After a long questioning, the man is taken to another holding cell for the night.
Police Tactics
It is important to note that the police investigations are designed to get convictions, not to uncover the facts in any sort of fair context. The police are trained to apply just enough pressure that the suspect can still be legally answering freely without coercion. If you are arrested, politely but firmly refuse to speak with the police before speaking with a lawyer. Contact the law firm of Christopher Abel, fighting for defendants’ rights.
(image courtesy of Nicolas Barbier Garreau)