What advice do you have on this Police drama?

Question

Last week i was on the way home from a night out in town with 3 others about 4am. 1 of the people I was with was drunk and lost his phone and under the the influence he confronted a passer-by who he believed had taken it in a case of mistaken identity and things erupted into a street brawl and the 2 others jumped in and started attacking the guy as things escalated, (all this is caught on CCTV).

Me, who was behind taking a call of nature caught-up and saw a fight and jumped in to calm the situation. As it died down police arrested me and the three others for "attempted robbery" as the victim made a claim he was being robbed when that wasn't the case.

So, basically I am being arrested just because police believe I was involved in the fight when in fact i was the one calming the situation.

I am currently on police bail (no charges YET) and stressing out because I'm just about to start uni and feel I am being unfairly done. I am unknown to the police (never been in trouble) but the matter of fact is "attempted robbery" is an indictable (serious) offence.

What do people suggest? and if police are not willing to distinguish me from the other three how can I go about getting a lesser charge brought about i.e. common assault

Answer 1

Get a lawyer who can read all of the reports and listen to all sides, and then give educated advice.  Usually, what one does is defend whatever charges are brought.  There are very rare cases in which it might be appropriate to voluntarily talk to the cops and give your side of the story.  

Answer 2

Contact the District Attorney and tell him what happened. You can probably plead mercy of the court since you have no prior record. You can plea bargin to lesser charge if you have to. And you can ask for a public defender  if case goes to court. Unfortunately the arrest will be on your record from now on. Good Luck.

Answer 3

Sounds like you were in the wrong place at the wrong time.  

Answer 4

I would strongly advise you to see a solicitor without delay. Don't accept a caution as this will go on record. If you are innocent then your solicitor will hopefully sort it out. Good luck

Answer 5

So...

You were all drunk, you were urinating in the street (an offence), one of your friends lost his phone earlier that night and decided that he needed to vent his frustrations on a totally random person who happened to be walking past at the time and steal his phone ?

Suggestions... Suggestions... Nope, don't have any.

You're unknown to the police but you and you're friends are not strangers to crime by the sounds of it, seem to me that this is Karma biting you in the backside buddy.

Answer 6

they have bailed you pending their enquiries, so once they see all the evidence then they will probably drop the charges. but make an appointment with a local solicitor, and get him to look into the case, i would think if your a student i won't cost you anything. but don't start worrying yet, i  think you'll be ok. but good luck !

Answer 7

Welcome to the real world nice innit

Answer 8

If as you say this was on cctv and taped(NOT ALWAYS) then you have nothing to worry about.As you say attempted robbery is a serious charge and the police will assess the evidence and then decide what charges are appropriate If what you say is true then you should not be in trouble but you need to consult a solicitor if the police choose to proceed with charges.

Answer 9

For a start if you are involved in a street brawl then the motivation is irrelevant. If you said that you were jumoping in to help your frienmd the police would have said that to help your friemnd and yourself youd have called them. Sio technically you are guilty of common assault a minor charg that can be dealt with via a caution.

It is hard to prove street robbery unless something has been stolen. Of course the victim can say that the attackers did not get anything. The other thing is that you did say the initial aggressors did make mention that he believed the victim had taken his mobile phone so there is some corrobrating statements that indicate an acquisitive element to the alleged crime.

If I were you, if the police press charges I would plead guilty to common assault and state that all you did was join in to help your friend, you did not steal anything, nor top the best of your knowledge did anyone else. Ifg you want to survive these situations don't worry about "grassing" as in my experience most people wouild rollover on thier mates if it means they gte a lioghter punishment.

Answer 10

so the guy who lost his phone is one of ur friends?!

or sum1 u know?!

either way he shud know u wernt involved and tell the police.. cos at the moment they are going on his allegation of attempted robbery... no allegation against u no crime to charge you for!

if he wont tell the police to drop the charges against u slap him around and rob him!! ur gonna get charged anyway so may as well be for a crime u actually commited!!