Texas
In the past 10 days a former friend stole my work van with $20,000 worth of equipment inside. The van was pulled over in another county and the former friend said we were divorced husband and wife and convinced them it was a civil issue. I got a call that the van had been returned but it was butchered with "two front seats" left in it.
I was on my way to the police station with the officer on the phone to file a criminal complaint and file a felony warrant. On the way I see the suspect a few miles from the police station. I follow the car but they pull into a parking lot to make a u turn. Knowing they would identify me I pulled them over and got out of my car. The suspect opens the door and I grab the keys out of the ignition, announce that I am placing a citizens arrest and have the police on the way. There was a struggle, both of them jumped on top of me and I pull back. I walk to my car when one of the suspects runs after me, assaults me and takes the keys out of my ignition after hitting me repeatedly trying to get the keys back.
The officer arrives and they come up with this crazy story about what happened, that I assaulted them, etc. etc. The suspect insisted we were "family members" and the police arrested me for "assault with bodily injury- family violence". I explained I was making a citizens arrest and I was taking the keys they stole from me which had my house keys. I would call it a "citizens detention" because I had police just a few blocks away.
They arrest the suspect for theft of my auto, a third degree felony and me for the above. They told me there is no such thing as a citizens arrest in Texas. I just got home and it took about 20 seconds to find the statue.
I'm wondering what I should do? They seem to be taking these girls word for everything they say despite the fact they STOLE MY VAN AND GUTTED IT.
I'd like to get a good attorney but my experience with attorneys up until this point has been less than savory. No one seems to want to dig into the law!
I'd like to file a criminal charge against the arresting officer for wrongful arrest (kidnapping), a civil law suit against the police department, criminal charges on the girl who assaulted me with bodily injury and of course get my assault charge dismissed.
If I acted out of my legal rights then I could understand a charge for taking the keys out of the ignition but an assault charge because they attacked me is really inappropriate no matter what the situation.
The girls have been full of stories up to this point and the police seem to buy anything they say 100%. They didn't even bother to question my witness or ask me for my side of the story other than if I approached the vehicle or not. They didn't care about my bruises and cuts. The only thing they cared about was the cut on the girls finger from trying to take my keys away from me, when I was walking to MY CAR to await police.
I'm really disillusioned with the law right now. I feel I have to go full force on everyone involved and do the paperwork/criminal complaints etc. etc. all by myself.
Thanks in advance.
In the past 10 days a former friend stole my work van with $20,000 worth of equipment inside. The van was pulled over in another county and the former friend said we were divorced husband and wife and convinced them it was a civil issue. I got a call that the van had been returned but it was butchered with "two front seats" left in it.
I was on my way to the police station with the officer on the phone to file a criminal complaint and file a felony warrant. On the way I see the suspect a few miles from the police station. I follow the car but they pull into a parking lot to make a u turn. Knowing they would identify me I pulled them over and got out of my car. The suspect opens the door and I grab the keys out of the ignition, announce that I am placing a citizens arrest and have the police on the way. There was a struggle, both of them jumped on top of me and I pull back. I walk to my car when one of the suspects runs after me, assaults me and takes the keys out of my ignition after hitting me repeatedly trying to get the keys back.
The officer arrives and they come up with this crazy story about what happened, that I assaulted them, etc. etc. The suspect insisted we were "family members" and the police arrested me for "assault with bodily injury- family violence". I explained I was making a citizens arrest and I was taking the keys they stole from me which had my house keys. I would call it a "citizens detention" because I had police just a few blocks away.
They arrest the suspect for theft of my auto, a third degree felony and me for the above. They told me there is no such thing as a citizens arrest in Texas. I just got home and it took about 20 seconds to find the statue.
I'm wondering what I should do? They seem to be taking these girls word for everything they say despite the fact they STOLE MY VAN AND GUTTED IT.
I'd like to get a good attorney but my experience with attorneys up until this point has been less than savory. No one seems to want to dig into the law!
I'd like to file a criminal charge against the arresting officer for wrongful arrest (kidnapping), a civil law suit against the police department, criminal charges on the girl who assaulted me with bodily injury and of course get my assault charge dismissed.
If I acted out of my legal rights then I could understand a charge for taking the keys out of the ignition but an assault charge because they attacked me is really inappropriate no matter what the situation.
The girls have been full of stories up to this point and the police seem to buy anything they say 100%. They didn't even bother to question my witness or ask me for my side of the story other than if I approached the vehicle or not. They didn't care about my bruises and cuts. The only thing they cared about was the cut on the girls finger from trying to take my keys away from me, when I was walking to MY CAR to await police.
I'm really disillusioned with the law right now. I feel I have to go full force on everyone involved and do the paperwork/criminal complaints etc. etc. all by myself.
Thanks in advance.