The Police Want to Talk to Me: What Should I Do?
It is one of the most stressful phone calls or knocks on the door you can experience. A detective or police officer contacts you and says, "We just want to get your side of the story," or "You aren't under arrest, we just need to clear some things up."
If you are a suspect or a "person of interest" in a criminal investigation in Pittsburgh or Allegheny County, you need to understand one fundamental truth: The police are not calling to help you. They are calling to build a case.
Here is exactly what you need to know, what you should do right now, and how an experienced Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney protects your future.
1. The Golden Rule: Do Not Speak to the Police Without an Attorney
It doesn't matter how innocent you are. It doesn't matter if the story is a complete misunderstanding. Do not give a statement, do not "explain your side," and do not agree to an informal chat.
Many people believe that refusing to talk makes them look guilty. In reality, attempting to talk your way out of an investigation is the easiest way to accidentally give the state the evidence they need to arrest you.
Crucial Legal Fact: In the United States, you have a constitutional right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment. Utilizing this right cannot be used against you as evidence of guilt in a court of law.
2. Why "Just Clearing Things Up" is a Trap
Detectives are highly trained in interrogation techniques designed to make you feel comfortable. They may minimize the situation to lower your guard. However, their primary goals during a suspect interview are often to:
Lock you into a story: If your memory fades or minor details change months later at trial, prosecutors will use those inconsistencies to call your credibility into question.
Obtain admissions: You might think you are denying a crime, but you may accidentally admit to being at the scene, knowing a victim, or owning a specific piece of property.
Gather enough probable cause for an arrest warrant: Often, the police don't have enough evidence to charge you until you sit down and talk to them.
3. What to Say If the Police Contact You
You can be polite while firmly protecting your rights. You do not need to be confrontational. If an officer calls you or shows up at your home, use these exact steps:
Ask if you are free to leave: If the police approach you in public or come to your door, ask calmly: "Am I under arrest, or am I free to go?" If you are free to go, calmly walk away.
Explicitly invoke your right to silence: Do not just stay quiet. Say clearly: "I am invoking my Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. I will not answer any questions without my attorney present."
Request your lawyer: Say: "I want to speak to my lawyer before saying anything further." Once you make this request clearly, the police are legally required to stop questioning you.
Secure your defense: Contact a local criminal defense firm before the police have the opportunity to spin the narrative or pressure you further.
4. How an Experienced Attorney Protects You Pre-Arrest
Hiring a lawyer does not make you look guilty—it makes you protected. When Aaron Sontz, Esq. steps into an active investigation on your behalf, the dynamic changes instantly:
The Risk Alone:Police pressure you into giving a recorded statement.
The Protected Reality: Your attorney handles all communications. The police can no longer contact you directly.
The Risk Alone: You are left wondering if or when an arrest warrant will drop.
The Protected Reality: Your attorney contacts the detective to find out exactly where the investigation stands.
The Risk Alone: You risk accidentally confessing or mixing up facts.
The Protected Reality: If a statement is ever in your best interest, it is strictly negotiated, limited, and controlled.
The Risk Alone: An arrest happens suddenly at your work or home.
The Protected Reality: If charges are filed, your attorney can arrange for a voluntary surrender, avoiding a public arrest.
Face the Investigation with an Elite Felony Trial Lawyer Behind You
As the former head of the Major Felony Unit at the Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender, Attorney Aaron Sontz has navigated thousands of criminal investigations and over 80 jury trials. He knows the tactics local police departments use, and he knows how to break their momentum before charges are even filed.
If a detective from the Pittsburgh Police, Allegheny County Police, or Pennsylvania State Police wants to talk to you, stop and call Aaron Sontz first.
Contact the Law Office of Aaron Sontz, Esq. Today
Our office is centrally located in downtown Pittsburgh near the local municipal and common pleas courts. Protect your rights, your freedom, and your future.
Office Location: 220 Grant Street, 5th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412-819-8798
Available: 24/7 by appointment