Legal obligation? Options

[Oasis]

Probably one of the worst "holy shit, it's a small world" scenarios just happeneed.

In December one of our businesses burned down. There hasn't been an official ruling on whether or not it was accidental or arson, although pretty much everyone suspects arson (We had a loser douchebag working for us who we had to fire because he could never show up for work on time; Apparently, he's hated us ever since. Plus, he's nuts).

A few nights ago I was driving by with my girlfriend and she asked was that our building. Yeah, I said. She told me she was talking to her dad about it and her dad knows who did it. I goddamn near swerved off the road. Apparently, the main suspect lives across the street from her dad and they're drinking buddies. I told her to get whatever info she could from her dad and after talking to him, she said he told me if I met with him he'd tell me who did it. I went over to his house and the first second I mentioned the suspects name he completely clammed up. Told me he had no idea who did it and he never told Erica (my gf) anything and she must have misheard him.

Bullshit.

It's blatantly obvious he got spooked or something and now won't talk. He knows exactly who did it and who did it was the guy we suspected from the beginning.

Is he under any legal obligation to tell the police if he knows who committed a crime? I would think so. I just don't know what to do, because if I went to the police myself and told them my girlfriend's dad knows who did it it could start all kinds of shit with their family. Plus I'm sure he would just deny any knowledge.

[Psykopath]

Probably one of the worst "holy shit, it's a small world" scenarios just happeneed.

In December one of our businesses burned down. There hasn't been an official ruling on whether or not it was accidental or arson, although pretty much everyone suspects arson (We had a loser douchebag working for us who we had to fire because he could never show up for work on time; Apparently, he's hated us ever since. Plus, he's nuts).

A few nights ago I was driving by with my girlfriend and she asked was that our building. Yeah, I said. She told me she was talking to her dad about it and her dad knows who did it. I goddamn near swerved off the road. Apparently, the main suspect lives across the street from her dad and they're drinking buddies. I told her to get whatever info she could from her dad and after talking to him, she said he told me if I met with him he'd tell me who did it. I went over to his house and the first second I mentioned the suspects name he completely clammed up. Told me he had no idea who did it and he never told Erica (my gf) anything and she must have misheard him.

Bullshit.

It's blatantly obvious he got spooked or something and now won't talk. He knows exactly who did it and who did it was the guy we suspected from the beginning.

Is he under any legal obligation to tell the police if he knows who committed a crime? I would think so. I just don't know what to do, because if I went to the police myself and told them my girlfriend's dad knows who did it it could start all kinds of shit with their family. Plus I'm sure he would just deny any knowledge.

Do you care about catching the guy that burned down your business?
If you do, then you shouldn't give two shits what your girlfriend's family thinks. A crime was committed. Justice should be more important than pissing off some douchebag who is potentially protecting a criminal.

[pysex]

Do you care about catching the guy that burned down your business?
If you do, then you shouldn't give two shits what your girlfriend's family thinks. A crime was committed. Justice should be more important than pissing off some douchebag who is potentially protecting a criminal.

zach's right...

you can still go to the police...at least with the testimony from your girlfriend...if she changes her story then its obvious the dickhole ex employee has more pull than you think

[impala454]

Obvious to him maybe but not obvious in a criminal court case. You'd probably waste your entire insurance check + more trying to bring this guy down and then lose and get eaten up in the civil court countersuit. I'd keep prodding and see if there's any hard evidence to be had or if it's just hearsay. Without some kind of evidence or eye witness testimony, you've got nothing but a lawyer moneysink.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

I think they might want something a bit more substantial than "My girlfriend overheard this..." or "my girlfriends dad knows who..."

I think that would still kinda classify as hear-say, and they couldnt really use that in a court-case.

[Spectatrix]

Talk to your lawyer.

[pebkac]

Probably one of the worst "holy shit, it's a small world" scenarios just happeneed.

In December one of our businesses burned down. There hasn't been an official ruling on whether or not it was accidental or arson, although pretty much everyone suspects arson (We had a loser douchebag working for us who we had to fire because he could never show up for work on time; Apparently, he's hated us ever since. Plus, he's nuts).

A few nights ago I was driving by with my girlfriend and she asked was that our building. Yeah, I said. She told me she was talking to her dad about it and her dad knows who did it. I goddamn near swerved off the road. Apparently, the main suspect lives across the street from her dad and they're drinking buddies. I told her to get whatever info she could from her dad and after talking to him, she said he told me if I met with him he'd tell me who did it. I went over to his house and the first second I mentioned the suspects name he completely clammed up. Told me he had no idea who did it and he never told Erica (my gf) anything and she must have misheard him.

Bullshit.

It's blatantly obvious he got spooked or something and now won't talk. He knows exactly who did it and who did it was the guy we suspected from the beginning.

Is he under any legal obligation to tell the police if he knows who committed a crime? I would think so. I just don't know what to do, because if I went to the police myself and told them my girlfriend's dad knows who did it it could start all kinds of shit with their family. Plus I'm sure he would just deny any knowledge.

I'd go a step further and say that since you have information that would help the police track this guy down, it would be your legal as well as moral obligation to give it to them. Granted, I would imagine that it would be a difficult case to prove, but do you really want to take a chance on something like that?

Even if it's not something that can directly help them, it could put the police on the right track towards catching him.

I also agree with Spec. If you're able to see an attorney, I'd advise doing so.

I do understand where you're coming from with it causing problems with your girlfriend, but if her father is going to start shit with you over not covering for someone who is an arsonist and a potential killer then I think it's not a good idea for you to be in good terms with him anyway.

[Oasis]

Obvious to him maybe but not obvious in a criminal court case. You'd probably waste your entire insurance check + more trying to bring this guy down and then lose and get eaten up in the civil court countersuit. I'd keep prodding and see if there's any hard evidence to be had or if it's just hearsay. Without some kind of evidence or eye witness testimony, you've got nothing but a lawyer moneysink.

This.

I can't just go to the police and accuse someone without any real evidence other than third party hearsay. And I certainly can't go around publicly stating that I think XXXXX committed the crime, especially during an ongoing investigation or before any arrests have been made. It would open up myself and my mom's company to a huge libel/civil suit.

Also, the cops already have his name and (claim) they're investigating him. How high up it is on their priority list is probably up for debate. It's taken them nearly two months to get around to trying to retrieve the surveillance data from the main computer. Even with my limited knowledge of technology I probably could have removed the hard drive from the desktop in under 30 minutes. Whatever.

If I had solid physical evidence like a recorded conversation of Erica's dad stating he knew who did it I'd be at the Sheriff's office right now. If he wanted to change his story with the cops and risk getting arrested for withholding evidence that's his problem. And I wouldn't care about the repercussions of her being mad at me. But all I have to go on is what she told me her dad said. If I threw all my eggs in one basket and asked the cops to talk to her dad it'd be too risky. If he refused to tell me he'd refuse to tell the police. If he said something that ruled out the guy as a suspect we'd be fucked in several ways.

[Hartmann]

Yeah, I'd say without a recording of your conversation or your girlfriend corroborating the story you're kind of screwed as your word is hearsay and I don't think it can be used to generate a warrant or questioning session.

[Spectatrix]

You might just tell the police the story like you told us here. That makes them aware that her father might have information regarding the crime, but lets them know that he might be reluctant to talk. *shrugs*

[Mommy]

I wouldn't tell the police that. They won't care. They will go "uh-huh" and draw in their little notepad and never touch the subject. Unless you find something more substantive, I would keep that info to yourself



Edit: Unless your shop is in Will Co. Then just tell the cops he is black, and they will go over there to rough him up a bit.

[FORSAKENR320]

Edit: Unless your shop is in Will Co. Then just tell the cops he is black, and they will go over there to rough him up a bit.

well deserved in my opinion....