Arrests for Past Crimes in Greenwich
In a situation where an officer decides to make an arrest for a Greenwich crime an individual committed sometime in the past, they will usually apply for an arrest warrant based on their investigation.
If law enforcement has somebody that has a direct observation of the crime and they are able to identify the suspect in a short period of time, then they will make the arrest without a warrant based on either the personal observations of either themselves or the potential witness.
If however, they are not able to do that or they need to go look at more evidence, such as a DNA test, blood test, or something similar, then they would be applying for an arrest warrant from a court or a prosecutor.
If you have been arrested for a crime you have committed in the past in Greenwich, it is critical that you consult with an attorney immediately. A knowledgeable lawyer will be able to mount a strong defense to help lessen or dismiss any penalties you may be facing.
Obtaining an Arrest Warrant
Typically, when an individual is arrested for a crime that has occurred more than a day or two, a week, or sometimes a month or more past the time that the crime is committed, the police officers will detail their evidence in an arrest warrant application. It will be presented to a judge that then determines whether there is probable cause to believe that the person has committed one or more crimes.
If the judge finds that there is probable cause to believe that the person did commit one or more crimes in the past in Greenwich, then the arrest warrant will be signed. At that point, it is up to the police officer to execute the arrest warrant to physically arrest the person and take them into custody.
Notification of Arrest
How an officer goes about arresting an individual can depend on the circumstances. An officer may call the individual and let them know they have an arrest warrant out for them and that they should cooperate and meet them at the police station.
Sometimes, for lower level crimes, law enforcement will send a letter to the home of the individual and let them know that they have a warrant out for their arrest and that they should contact law enforcement when they receive the letter. This sometimes occurs years after the crime has taken place.
In other instances, for more serious or more dangerous crimes, law enforcement will go out and pursue the person on their own.
Arrest Process
People should be aware that the officer in the process of placing somebody under arrest for past crimes in Greenwich may do a search of the suspect incident to the arrest. What happens is that the officer will declare that they are placing the individual under arrest when placing them in handcuffs.
A lot of times, at that point, the officer will do a pat down search for any weapons or contraband incident to the arrest, even if the nature of the arrest did not give rise for a reason to think that there might be the presence of weapons or illegal contraband. Law enforcement will still conduct the search for the safety of the officer.