cops are looking for a friend at my house

[viper2019]

A friend of mine has a warrant. I live on private property down a private drive. He does not live here nor has he ever. My landlord told me they came out twice looking for him while I was gone yesterday. I haven't had to deal with them yet but eventually I will have to if they keep showing up. What should I do if I refuse entry but they insist? Also, can they come here at all without being called since it is private property not visible from the highway? I live in Mississippi.

 

[FlyingRon]

Asking around if anybody has seen a fugitive is called good police work.

Absent any probable cause that the fugitive is within your property they can't enter without your permission.

 

[Silverplum]

A friend of mine has a warrant. I live on private property down a private drive. He does not live here nor has he ever. My landlord told me they came out twice looking for him while I was gone yesterday. I haven't had to deal with them yet but eventually I will have to if they keep showing up. What should I do if I refuse entry but they insist? Also, can they come here at all without being called since it is private property not visible from the highway? I live in Mississippi.

Yes, the police can come to your private home (all homes are "private") and ask questions. Why wouldn't they be?

I had the FBI at my (private) door once. They wanted to check out my neighbor for her employment application. Those are the sorts of friends I have. Maybe you'd like to make new friends.

 

[Ohiogal]

Yes, the police can come to your private home (all homes are "private") and ask questions. Why wouldn't they be?

I had the FBI at my (private) door once. They wanted to check out my neighbor for her employment application. Those are the sorts of friends I have. Maybe you'd like to make new friends.

The contact I get from authorities is asking for dental records. I need new clients, I do believe.

 

[LdiJ]

The contact I get from authorities is asking for dental records. I need new clients, I do believe.

I had a cop show up at my door once wanting to know what I could tell them about a client, which was pretty much zip.

 

[tranquility]

The police generally have a right to go to all public areas to enforce an arrest warrant. Again, generally, they also need a search warrant (obtained with probable cause) to enter the residence of a third party to effect an arrest. That can change if the owner gives permission for the police to enter or, in some states/circuits, the police actually see the targeted person and the person retreats deeper into the house. (4th amendment gives a reasonable expectation of privacy. In some circuits, like the 9th, if one were to expose the wanted person when he opened the door, that might be enough for the police to do an entry under exigent circumstances.) I'm not going to look up Mississippi as the facts get so closely read in these cases to require multiple cases to really show what the police can do if the owner actually exposes the person targeted by the warrant.

If the police actually do believe the targeted person is in the house, they can keep everyone from entering and exiting until they do get a search warrant--where they can then enter.

 

[Zigner]

To be clear - the police can come up to your front door and knock.

 

[Ladyback1]

What should I do if I refuse entry but they insist? Also, can they come here at all without being called since it is private property not visible from the highway? I live in Mississippi.

You have every right to refuse entry. If, however, the cops believe or have been told your friend is actually there, they can get a search warrant--then you can't deny entry (well, you CAN, but it would be foolish).

Cops can "visit" private property without having been called to the address. They have a duty to investigate, follow-up, etc. on crimes and warrants.

For some reason, they believe you have information on your friend's whereabouts. Whether you do or not is irrelevant--the cops think you know something. So, yes, you will probably have to deal directly with them at some point.