So you’ve been arrested for domestic assault. You and your sweetie got into an argument, things got heated, and the cops got called. It happens all the time in Lansing, Novi, Stanton, Jackson and all over the state of Michigan. Couples fight and someone decides the law needs to be involved. Sometimes it’s warranted, because one person loses control of themselves in a moment of anger and makes a poor choice that harms (or sometimes even kills) their partner. Other times the police get called for no good reason than somebody’s having a temper tantrum.
But very often it’s just two angry people who can’t see eye-to-eye about something, and all they really need is time to cool down before they can have a reasonable discussion like adults. However, once the cops show up and you get arrested for Domestic Violence, that’s not usually an option anymore. But now that they’re in your house, what do you do?
If you’re ever arrested for domestic assault in Michigan…
Don’t try to “tell them your side of the story”! Don’t. Ever!
If the cops are involved, the landscape of this problem has escalated. It’s no longer just you and your loved one trying to figure out an issue. So the first thing you need to do is shut up! We get it – you want to explain yourself. You want them to see that you’re not a violent person, that you didn’t want to hurt anyone. But now is not the time for that. Cops will make a quick judgment call and that often leads to one person being hauled off to the county jail.
In fact, you may not realize it, but talking to the cops- answering their questions and attempting to explain what happened – can definitely make things worse. You’re being arrested. That means they’re reading you your Miranda rights. Did you hear that part about “anything you say can and will be used against you in court”? Yup, that was serious. So it’s critical that you DON’T SAY A WORD. Lawyer up. Just call at your first opportunity. Once one of our attorneys arrives you can talk till you’re blue in the face if you want to. But not to the cops, and not until you have a lawyer there to advise you. Don’t talk to people at the jail, don’t talk to family or friends while using the jail telephone (since it’s being recorded) and just stay calm and polite.
Be prepared for having no contact with your partner!
When someone is arrested for domestic assault, the victim often asks the court to issue a Personal Protection Order (PPO), which is also sometimes called a restraining order in Michigan. That means you’re not allowed to have any contact with your partner (“the victim”) at all. You can’t call them on the phone, email them, reach out through social media, or talk to them in person. You can’t arrive at your house (even if it’s just to pick up your stuff), or show up at their job. Even it there is no PPO, it is probably a condition of your bond when you were released from jail pending your court date. If you violate a PPO condition or your bond condition, there’s a fair chance you will end up back behind bars.
You can’t even go to public places where they happen to be at the time, like a grocery store in Corunna, or a restaurant in Mount Pleasant. And if you do, your partner can call the cops and you’ll be immediately arrested. The cops don’t even need proof that you were there. Your partner simply needs to say that they saw you driving past the house, or walking down an aisle in the grocery store where they were shopping and you’ll be accused of violating the PPO.
Don’t let someone else’s accusations ruin your future!
It’s important to remember that domestic assault is handled differently from any other type of assault in Michigan. Whether you live in Clark Lake, Battle Creek, or Alma, it’s going to be the same scenario – it’s your word against theirs and the cops are likely to take their version of events as truth (even if it’s nothing more than wild accusations). Being arrested for domestic assault can ruin your future. Don’t let someone else’s accusations land you with a criminal record and the loss of your home and family.
Join us next time for the other two critically important things you need to know if you ever get arrested for domestic violence. But until then, if you’ve been accused of threatening, hurting or assaulting your partner or anyone else, you’re going to need expert legal advice. And that’s where we come in. Here at The Kronzek Firm, our skilled criminal defense trial team has decades of experience successfully defending people accused of domestic violence. Call 866 766 5245 right now to set up your free Zoom or phone consultation. We’re available around the clock to help by calling 866 7NoJail.