Bracelets for me?

[backpacker85]

Not sure how large a town you live in, but another option may be a phone call to your local DA or Prosecutor. Not doubting the integrity of your local Sheriff, but some I know would simply call the number you gave them & ask if they were who they said they were.

Not only is it possible the DA/Prosecutor may have access to more background on your "investigator" than the Sheriff, but they may be more than happy to "host" the interview at no cost, depending on what they know of the investigator.

Who knows.....if the investigator finds out the interview will be in a Prosecutor's office, you may never hear from him again. On the other hand.......well, let's just say there's a reason some soap comes on a rope.

[Black wallnut]

If it were me, and believe me I have nothing to hide, have a bunch of friends in law enforcement, if some law enforcement officer wanted to interview me in my home the answer would be "go pound sand!"

Get a lawyer involved if possible, but keep in mind at the very least that you control the terms of the interview. You may end it at any point for any reason. They have to be very careful what they ask and carefully consider your answers unless they first read you your warnings under Miranda. Plus if they start by reading you your Miranda rights end it right away until you can get legal advise.

Chances are good that it is just some dead end for them, at least I would hope that is the case.

[Ed62]

I really appreciate everyone's concern, but really, I don't expect anything much to come of it. In fact I thought it was kind of funny that my name showed up. No lawyer unless I feel my rights are being stepped on, or for any other reason I feel uncomfortable. It's my property, and I can insist they leave at any time. Maybe I'm just too trusting. I have a neighbor who said he would love to sit in on it. Maybe I'll invite him.

Ed

[Warren]

I am a retired copper.

If the inspector starts the interrogation with your Miranda rights . . . zip it. Ask him to leave and advise him that any further questions he may have may be answered, but only in the presence of your attorney.

If you are being interrogated as to some other person's actions, I would advise reasonable cooperation.

[Ed62]

Ah, good advice. Thanks.

Ed

[MilDoc]

If you are being interrogated as to some other person's actions, I would advise reasonable cooperation.

But you still might want to watch what you say. Slander suits are a lawyer's forte.

[whitecobra]

Ed
I was in drug interdiction for 8 years and still hold my Federal Credentials. I ran the eastern corridor from DC to Boston so trust me I am not shooting from the hip here.

What I can tell you is that only locals will Mirandize you

He can avoid the Miranda by simply stating that at no time during the questioning were you being arrested or in jeopardy of being arrested. With that anything is fair game to talk about and if he was as good as my guys he will simply give you more then enough rope and candy to hang yourself

My best comment to you is this. If you were NOT a target you would have been asked to come down to HIM to talk. Since you have been set up to talk to him at your house then by letting him in you allowed him to observe and see details he might be interested in. He doesnt' need a warrant as you jsut invited him in. (not a smart move sir)

The advice to meet in a lawyer's office was the best advice so far. Take advantage of it OR say NOTHING but confirming your name and birth date and SSN (if asked) from your front porch PERIOD

Law enforcement guys do not waste time driving around for no good reason and if he is willing to come out and wants to talk you ARE a target or at minimum you are a suspect

Good luck with the endeavor and please take the request more seriously then has been shown by some of the forum guys. Remember what you say CAN AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU IN A COURT OF LAW

Dr D

[Warren]

Law enforcement guys do drive around wasting time. We also looked for reasons to get out of our jurisdiction and cruise a little, particularly if per diem was involved. There may also be a good diner in the neighborhood or on the route, a girlfriend, donuts, etc.

Most of the Feds I dealt with, I'm a grad of the FBI's National Academy, didn't play fast and loose with the rules. However, Dr. D is right, there are some who will violate the law to make an arrest. By and large most judges won't buy off on the old dodge, "the individual was not in custody and I was not going to arrest him. He could have left at any time." Judges tend to give wieght to the intimidation factor of a badge, uniform, and color of law. It's the bum arrests and poor police work that gave us most of, what coppers refer to, as bad decisions. We brought the Miranda decision on ourselves. Still, the pendulum swings back and forth so more police friendly laws are coming out of the court. Then some yahoo rookie with a Lone Ranger complex will screw it up again though. You can bet on it.

Still, good advice is not to say anything at all if you are a suspect, or as they like to refer to the suspect these days, a person of interest. If you are uncomfortable with letting the officer inside the house, refuse entry and speak on the porch. However, by doing so you may arouse the interest of the officer and get a little more scrutiny than you want. Suddenly, that stop sign down the block that you have rolled through every day for the past few years sprouts a traffic cop and you've got a well deserved ticket. Do what is in your best interests.

However, this discussion may be moot as you do not seem to think that you are a suspect and may be at a loss as to why all of the interest of the police. Chances are you were or are acquainted with the suspect. Or maybe just mentioned by soeone else as a person with information. The president could be visiting your area and a remark you made to someone off hand, in a bar while half in the bag, has gotten back to the Secret Service. I'm also a graduate of the Dignitary Protection Course of the USSS. Local officers some times do the follow up for the USSS office, particulary if the threat is rather innucuous and the local office understaffed.

There are a million reasons for the interrogation. Most of them benign.

[cabinetman]

Ed

Here's another thought. It's probably not what you think. If it was something seriously involving you there more than likely would not have been a phone call to arrange the meeting. Somebody would just show up unannounced.

It could be something as simple as a background check on somebody you know, or worked with.

[Ed62]

O.K. here's the thing. The call came from Chicago, IL. I live in Indiana. I haven't even been to Chicago for probably 4 years or so. I don't drink (so the bar theory is out), I'm almost always home, I don't travel more than 20 miles from home, and I have never made a threat to anyone. I've also never been arrested, I'm 69 years old, very family oriented, lived in this area most of my life, and I have nothing to hide. Now, does that mean someone couldn't find something in my home they could use as an excuse to pursue something like this? Not that I know of. They will find things like a swing set, a pack-'n-play, or other child related items. I suppose someone could use that trying to make a case of me being a child molester. After reading all the comments, I'm beginning to realize this might be something I shouldn't take lightly. I do appreciate the concern on this site for my well being. Thanks to all. If you don't hear from me by Thursday (tomorrow) afternoon, you know something didn't go my way.

Ed

[Stytooner]

Invite him in. Turn on your Webcam and lets have some BT3Central Live Feed so we can all watch the interview.

[scorrpio]

They did not specify anything about the nature of the interview? Like what kind of threat?

Not sure how extensive your woodworking is, but I suppose if you work with finishes and such, someone might have smelled the chemicals and reported your place a potential meth lab - so what they really want to do is take a look at your place. From what I read about them, active meth labs are easily recognized by trained professionals.

[LarryG]

Ed, if you've not checked your credit report lately, you might want to do that, see if you see anything that looks off. If I were in your shoes, and knew I'd done nothing wrong, one of the first things I'd wonder about is identity theft.

[Russianwolf]

Then I guess we can all expect a visit from Homeland Security.

It's that handle, "Russianwolf". I bet he's even got a commie flag hangin in his garage!

Oddly enough, I think I'm the only one on the site with a Top Secret security clearance from my Navy days.

The FBI knows ALL about me.

[DUD]

Nope Mike I had a Top Secret Crypto, back when. Bill