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Editor: Will Hanlon & Charlie Lambert
Profession: Tampa Defense Attorneys

Category: Criminal Law

Case No.: 06-CF-019817; Date: 10/23/06

FACTS: The defendant was attempting to pick up family members from the airport when he had a dispute with a law enforcement officer. After circling the airport numerous times he attempted to park his vehicle at the arrival terminal. The same officer involved in the previous dispute claimed the defendant veered his vehicle in his direction in an attempt to strike him.

DEFENSE: Law enforcement at the airport claimed they had video that verified the officer's version of events. After discussions with the State Attorney it became clear that the officers did not have sufficient evidence to support the charge.

RESULT: The charge was dismissed. This case is a terrific example of why hiring an attorney prior to the formal filing of a charge can be extremely beneficial. The detective involved in the investigation attempted to get the defendant to make some admission as to his intent with his vehicle during a phone interview. When the detective didn't get what he wanted he tried to set up an interview at the airport with the defendant. The defendant never appeared and a warrant was put out for his arrest. Eventually the defendant was arrested, and had to bond out of jail. Many times we can prevent the above scenario from occuring through discussions with the detective. It is important for any suspect to realize that he cannot talk safely with a detective, or any member of law enforcement. Any officer investigating a criminal case is going to attempt draw an admission from a suspect, and many times what appears to be an admission in the officer's report is not totally accurate. Unfortunately, once a suspect takes the risk of speaking with law enforcement without a lawyer the detective's interpretation is what winds up winds up in his report.