Found and returned perscriptions

[Cross Hair]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

I am a bicyclist and while on a ride I found a ziploc bag that contained a bunch of subscription medicines. I have found other things on the road in the past and always did what I could to return to the owner, and that's what I did with the meds. I figured someone had sat them on their car as they were doing something else and forgot them, then when they started driving they slid off the car. I didn't have reading glasses with me so rode the last few miles to my house, got on my phone and googled the name on the meds, got the address and returned them.

Turns out they were stolen in a robbery, the owner asked for my name and number telling me an officer would want to know exactly where and how I found them. Yesterday I get a call from a police department asking me to come write out a statement, which I did. The officer thought I was driving a car when I found them and when finding out I was on a bicycle his attitude kind of changed. He told me I should have left them right there and called the police, and if something comes up suspicious in my statement we will have a problem.

OK...hindsight...should not have touched them, I get it, I told the officer I was sorry I got involved. I didn't call the police honestly because it was a rural area and I didn't want to wait around for an hour until the police showed up, I couldn't just leave them there by the road thinking some kids could get a hold of them, I figured the fastest way to return them would be to do it myself figuring it was someone who lived right in that area.

I was talking with a friend last night and he said of coarse I should have never touched them and I should have never written a statement.

Could I be in trouble here? Is picking them up and moving them a crime?

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

I am a bicyclist and while on a ride I found a ziploc bag that contained a bunch of subscription medicines. I have found other things on the road in the past and always did what I could to return to the owner, and that's what I did with the meds. I figured someone had sat them on their car as they were doing something else and forgot them, then when they started driving they slid off the car. I didn't have reading glasses with me so rode the last few miles to my house, got on my phone and googled the name on the meds, got the address and returned them.

Turns out they were stolen in a robbery, the owner asked for my name and number telling me an officer would want to know exactly where and how I found them. Yesterday I get a call from a police department asking me to come write out a statement, which I did. The officer thought I was driving a car when I found them and when finding out I was on a bicycle his attitude kind of changed. He told me I should have left them right there and called the police, and if something comes up suspicious in my statement we will have a problem.

OK...hindsight...should not have touched them, I get it, I told the officer I was sorry I got involved. I didn't call the police honestly because it was a rural area and I didn't want to wait around for an hour until the police showed up, I couldn't just leave them there by the road thinking some kids could get a hold of them, I figured the fastest way to return them would be to do it myself figuring it was someone who lived right in that area.

I was talking with a friend last night and he said of coarse I should have never touched them and I should have never written a statement.

Could I be in trouble here? Is picking them up and moving them a crime?

You do not have a cell phone? It would have been smartest for you to call the police as soon as you found the bag of medicines and then turn the drugs over to the police to handle, instead of trying to locate the owner of the drugs yourself. I agree with your friend that it probably would have been best not to write out a statement for the police.

That said, if you are questioned again by the police about finding the drugs or about the robbery, refuse to answer all questions (exercise your right to remain silent) and refer all questions to your attorney. You will want this attorney if you are charged with a crime (although charges might be unlikely, given your description of the events).

Good luck.

 

[xylene]

With 99% certainty, the policeman was just rattling your cage, to see if you freaked out or suddenly changed your story.

 

[Cross Hair]

You do not have a cell phone? It would have been smartest for you to call the police as soon as you found the bag of medicines and then turn the drugs over to the police to handle, instead of trying to locate the owner of the drugs yourself. I agree with your friend that it probably would have been best not to write out a statement for the police.

That said, if you are questioned again by the police about finding the drugs or about the robbery, refuse to answer all questions (exercise your right to remain silent) and refer all questions to your attorney. You will want this attorney if you are charged with a crime (although charges might be unlikely, given your description of the events).

Good luck.

I do carry my cell phone but my bike riding glasses are not prescription and they are also Polarized lenses which makes it impossible to see my phone screen if it's light out. There are no police in the area so I would have had to call a county sheriff and waited which I didn't want to do, and I would have had to dial 911 because I wouldn't have been able to see my phone well enough to google the county sheriffs number. Time to get prescription riding glasses obviously!

 

[quincy]

I do carry my cell phone but my bike riding glasses are not prescription and they are also Polarized lenses which makes it impossible to see my phone screen if it's light out. There are no police in the area so I would have had to call a county sheriff and waited which I didn't want to do, and I would have had to dial 911 because I wouldn't have been able to see my phone well enough to google the county sheriffs number. Time to get prescription riding glasses obviously!

You did what was necessary for you at the time. Finders of lost/stolen goods are generally not expected to inconvenience themselves or go out of their way for an owner of lost goods. That you did what you did probably would have been fine at any other time.

It was just your bad luck that the medicines you happened upon when bike riding were stolen in an area robbery. This has complicated a simple lost-and-found event.

Again, I would refrain from speaking to the police. What you say to the police is of no benefit to you and potentially could be used against you. Good luck.

 

[Cross Hair]

Thanks for taking the time and offering up some opinions, I appreciate it. I'm hoping I never hear another thing about the situation.

 

[quincy]

Thanks for taking the time and offering up some opinions, I appreciate it. I'm hoping I never hear another thing about the situation.

We appreciate the thanks, Cross Hair. Good luck.

 

[stealth2]

You did the right thing. The cop had the hair across his A** and probably should had treated you better.

Ignore Kingy - he knows little to nothing.