does anyone know the full process about an arrest warrant?before they arrest you do they have to show you the warrant itself and give you a copy?

No. They don't even have to physically have the warrant with them, as long as it's signed and "on its way"

because a friend of mine got arrested, saying they had two warrants for his arrest, they didn't give him a copy, and they didn't send him to jail, or to the magistrate's office. they took him back to the station to try and help them

I believe "warrants? we don't need no stinking warrants" was the official motto of the Fairfax County police until last year, when they changed it to "we have new shiny cars".

i just want to know if that was legal for them to do that, becasue to my knowledge, i thoguht you ahd to be shown the warrant of arrest, and also given a copy. even if you didn't, i know that you should be taken to jail or the magistrate's office, and none of those things were done

They don't need warrants in-hand to arrest. Simply knowing that there are warrants on file is enough for them to arrest you.

alright, i guess one question is answered. what about the other?don't they have to put you in jail or send you to the magistrate?

you've given a very sketchy detailing here so it's hard to say what is up in your friend's case

if they didn't put him in jail then what did they do with him... be as specific as you need to be.

I believe the answer is yes, but it's conditional. Your earlier statement that they took him back to the station seemed to end abruptly.

I believe that they could take him to the station to "detain" him for questioning regarding an ongoing investigation if they felt it was necessary. If they bring him straight to jail or the magistrate, they could not interrogate him first.

they took him back to the station and tried to get them to help him setup people. they said he had two felonies against him, they didn't charge him with anything. they said if you dont' help, we're putting you in jail.

So did he help?

no

That's why you always ask for a lawyer whenever you're detained, preferably me starting next october.

They told him that he'd go to jail unless he helped. He didn't help, but he's not in jail.

Am I missing something? Are you sure he did(n't) help?

Because I would imagine that the police department wouldn't joke about that kinda thing... ("haha, no you can go. we were just fucking with you about the warrants.")

i'm sure he didn't, he told them he would, but he hasn't. they think he's going to. but my question is, aren't they suppose to take him to jail or the magistrate upon the warrant?

Cops lie, there was no warrant.

I would think so. Unless I am way off (which I have been known to be), the warrant would have been issued by a judge or magistrate, so there's not a lot that the police department can do to negotiate that or make the warrant go away. I think that the county prosecutor has to drop the charge from that point. It seems odd to me that they let him go, but without knowing more about the circumstances, I am only guessing here...


Oh, and IANAL, YMMV, OMGWTF, stuff like that.

when they went ot the station, they flashed the warrants, there were on white paper, and not on the colored paper, whatever color that is, they said they ran out of colored paper, but pointed out the "F" for felony in the corner

they said it was for two distribution charges back in MARCH

That's got to be the lamest story I've heard in a while. They get an "F" for their lack of believability.

rofl, stupid question probably, but i'm assuming some cops know about this site?

Two felony distribution charges in March? The county would have been beating down your--I mean "his" door well before now.

that's what i was thinking

With the way everybody goes on about "bud" and "head shops" and the likes, I would be stunned if they *weren't* watching the site.

yeah i just got told about this site from my friend, he just showed me how to look up people's records and shit

so since the warrant of arrest wasn't issued, bcause he didn't go straight to jail or the magistrate, that arrest was illegal?

He does not appear to have been arrested. The cops lied to him to willingly go to the station with them.

nothing wrong with talking head shops, but the bud talk could be a little more circumspect..

that's what i was thinking, since he didn't goto straight to jail, or the magistrate

can't he do something about that though?being cuffed and told he was under arrest, but he really wasn't

His word against theirs. Nothing he can do except learn what to do next time.

but what word?they can't say they arrested him legally, because they didn't really issue the warrants, and they didn't take him to jail or the magistrate

They asked him to come to the station with them and he went willingly.

well they put him in cuffs, said he was under arrest

Judge: Did you cuff him and tell him he's under arrest?

Officer #1: No

Officer #2: No

Judge: That's some good work boys.

good wording, thank you

hes a snitch dont trust him

Your friend was selling drugs, most likely pot. The "distribution charges" from march weren't actually charges but rather when the "controlled buys" from a confidential informant (read: narc) took place. After they knew what was up I'm sure they surveilled his house for a couple months to see who came and went, and to see if he got any bigger.

Usually the narcotics unit will make three controlled buys and use that as enough evidence to get a search warrant for the house (hoping to find a much larger stash). If that didn't happen they probably couldn't get any more sales or figured he was too small for it to be worth their while.

Your friend was taken back to the police station and probably bullshitted with them for a couple hours telling them how he can get the bigger fish or whatnot. They entered him into the CI program and let him go. This is a little unusual because in any case I've heard about before they usually at least formally charge him and a detective will walk with him into fairfax ADC (with a ski mask) to tell the magistrate that he's being cooperative and to set the bail low.

Be skeptical about your friend. If you're involved in any illegal activities with him (other than recreational usage) stop, now. Ask him for the truth.

If you have any other questions let me know.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2005 05:58AM by Cary.

CERT says for sure under arrest!!!

What station was your friend taken to? There are video Magistrate at some of the Fairfax county Police stations. And your friend could of been released without a bond. Where you in the room the whole time with your friend he/she might not be telling you everything.