You can almost always tell when a police officer is at the door. The so-called cop knock is hard to ignore. Many people feel nervous when the police arrive at their front door, and their nervousness may lead to poor decision-making.
There are mistakes that can easily lead to criminal charges or hurt your chances of defending yourself in court. If you understand the most common mistakes that people make when the police knock at their door, you will be in a better position to assert your rights if you ever find yourself in this situation.
They let the police in
Law enforcement officers frequently ask to come inside to talk to someone. They may not indicate that their true intention is to search someone’s home or gather evidence against them. Politeness dictates that individuals open their homes to others when they ask, but deferring to politeness when dealing with the police could affect your legal rights.
They become aggressive or confrontational
No one likes to have a police officer pounding on their front door, but the negative emotional reaction someone has to the presence of police does not justify an aggressive response. Police officers don’t necessarily know you or how you will behave, and they may assume the worst if you become combative after they knock on your door. You can assert your rights without being overtly rude and oppositional toward the police officer.
They rush around to clean up their house
It is normal to worry that people will judge you based on the mess on the coffee table or all the dog fur on the carpet. However, when police officers hear people moving around loudly inside, especially if they hear sounds like a paper shredder or a toilet flushing, they may assume that someone wants to hide or destroy evidence and may force entry into the home.
They simply ignore the officers
If police come to your house once, you may try to be quiet and wait for them to leave. Provided that they do not have a warrant, the most they can do is come back later. However, if you completely ignore their presence and fail to take any action, they may come back again when you are not home and gain access, or they might even come back with a warrant.
For many people, the first step to take when the police show up at their home is to consult with an attorney, followed by allowing the attorney to handle any communications with the police related to an ongoing investigation. Reaching out to our firm can help you review your options for a defense and better protect yourself during a police investigation.
