illegal car searches

[inabind1975]

What is the name of your state? pa

2 nights ago i parked my car and had my friend drive me home as i was too drunk to drive. when she returned to my car to drive it to her house a man told her this car was used in a crime and the police were on their way and she wasn't allowed to leave with the car she said to him that there was no crime and the guy said his house was broken into and the only car around was mine. instead of leaving with the car she went home and called me. when she returned the car was gone. i called police and told them the car was gone when my friend went to pick it up and he told me they towed it for illegal parking and it was in impound and could be picked up after 8 am. when i went to pick up the car it wasn't there. they had it with the auto squad for fingerprints and photos as it "was used in a crime" and being held for processing. however they wouldn't tell me any other info and just gave me the name and # of the officers. i tried contacting the officers and the luitenant said they were not going to be in until 8pm and she didn't have any info for me and the officers were the only ones who could release it. when i tried back later i was told that the officers were off (one called off and the other had the day off) and i would have to call back. when i called the next day the luitenant again said she didn't know anything and after i kept persisting she said a neighbor had witnessed someone putting copper and tools in my car. i told her that was impossible unless my car was stolen or broken into and she said it wasn't. then she said i don't know anything else. i kept persisting and she first told me she didn't know if the police unlocked my car and searched it or not then later in the conversation it changed to they recovered something from my car. i asked her why i have never been contacted about my car as i am the owner and have rights to know what is happening. she just said talk to the officers and then started asking me all kinds of questions (why my car was there, why i was in pittsburgh, etc) this has been going on for far too long and i don't know what to do. it seems that everyone is giving me the run around. if my car was searched while i was not there to witness it, is there anything i can do. and isn't it suspicious that this officer hasn't made any attempt to contact me? also why was i told when i called about my car did they tell me it was illegally parked and so they took it to impound. i really need some advice on what m,y rights are asap as i have never been in trouble and i don't understand why they are doing this. thank you!!

[Zigner]

You should re-post with paragraphs and other useful punctuation marks.

[fairisfair]

so you were driving your car, drunk, and then decided that you were too drunk, so you got a friend to drive you home, leaving your car. She then went back to get your car, of course what she did with the car that she was driving, we will never know, only to find that it had been stuffed all full of stolen property.

Wow.

oh, and you expect us to believe this.

[fairisfair]

Originally Posted by Zigner

You should re-post with paragraphs and other useful punctuation marks.

oh, and a little truth thrown in now and again, would be refreshing.

[CdwJava]

Originally Posted by inabind1975

2 nights ago i parked my car and had my friend drive me home as i was too drunk to drive.

Smart.

they had it with the auto squad for fingerprints and photos as it "was used in a crime" and being held for processing.

Perhaps your friend isn't being all that truthful with you.

I mean, what a coincidence ... she leaves the car at a residence, the residence is broken in to and the goods end up in the car. Hmm ... ballsy bad guys ... "Hey, let's stash the goods in that car out there and ... and ... uh ... steal the car?"

when i tried back later i was told that the officers were off (one called off and the other had the day off) and i would have to call back.

That happens. Some of us get days off ... though that isn't my reality, but then I haven't been a grunt for many years.

it seems that everyone is giving me the run around. if my car was searched while i was not there to witness it, is there anything i can do.

Sure. If you are charged with a crime, your attorney can move to have the evidence suppressed if they had no lawful authority to have impounded and searched the vehicle. However, if they had a lawful impound of the vehicle, there are circumstances under which a search warrant or consent might not be needed. It really depends on the WHY in this incident.

and isn't it suspicious that this officer hasn't made any attempt to contact me?

Maybe they want to finish the rest of the investigation before they do. It could be you are a suspect ... or could be.

Unlike television shows, REAL police investigations take time to complete. They aren't generally wrapped up in an hour.

i really need some advice on what m,y rights are asap as i have never been in trouble and i don't understand why they are doing this. thank you!!

Consult local counsel if you want those answers.

- Carl