Manassas Criminal Searches

If police officers believe you may be involved in a crime, it is likely they will conduct an investigation that will likely include searches on your house, your car, and even your office. For this reason, it is imperative you consult with a Manassas criminal lawyer as soon as possible after a search to ensure that your rights were not violated. The following is more information on these searches and how an attorney may be able to assist you.

Property Searches in Manassas

If the police begin searching your house and have a warrant, there is very little you can do to prevent them from going forward with their search. The police will typically wait until they have a search warrant in order to search your home, but there are certain scenarios under which they do not need a warrant.

Under these circumstances, it will be important to document exactly what is going on as best as one possibly can, which may assist in later suppressing any evidence if it turns out that the search is illegal. However no matter what it is important to always make it clear that you do not consent to the search.

Reasons Manassas Police May Conduct a Search

Most of the time law enforcement will target an individual because it appears they have done something suspicious and that attracts the police’s attention. This can come up in a variety of ways. Sometimes the police will be investigating something entirely separate and will find that an individual may be involved with others whom they believe have committed crimes. Even though they do not know whether this associate had anything to do with it, the person may be investigated to see if they are involved in any criminal activity.

It may also be the case that a different individual has been charged with a crime and they are asked to cooperate with police by giving information about others involved with the same activities. Under these circumstances, it may be that the police have been given your name and that is the reason they are now focused on your activity.

Clues You Are Being Investigated

The primary red flag that you are being investigated for a crime or may soon find yourself investigated is that police reach out to you directly or begin asking your friends, relatives or other associates questions about you. In addition, if the police are making phone calls to your employer or to financial institutions you do business with and you are alerted to these things, it may be that there is an investigation ongoing.

Consulting With a Manassas Criminal Lawyer

Even if you are not sure you are being investigated, the safest, most conservative thing you can do to protect your rights and to limit any exposure you may have in the future is to talk to an attorney. A lawyer is going to give you advice in your particular situation about who you should and should not be talking to, what evidence you should preserve, and other proactive steps you might take to either head off an investigation or charges.

In other cases, a lawyer may advise you to remain completely silent and not let on that you suspect there is an investigation, as this may give you a better opportunity to collect information going forward. However, until you talk to a lawyer about your particular concerns, you are not going to know for sure the best way to move forward.