Can a cop refuse to not file charges on someone as a scare tactic?

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Can a cop refuse to not file charges on someone as a scare tactic?

About 8 days ago I was beaten by a guy. After he attacked me he stole my phone and him and his friends left me stranded in the middle of nowhere. I walked to someone’s house and called the police. The police came, asked me for my story, which I gave (with a few alterations to the truth about our intentions to buy weed). He then took me to the station. On the way there I told him the truth about our plans. He had the people involved come to the station. He went on to tell me that he wouldn’t press charges agains’t them unless he charged me for giving a false report and for attempting to buy a drug.

Asked on July 3, 2012 under Personal Injury, Alabama

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

It is not up to law enforcement to file or not file charges with respect to an incident as a scare tactic. Rather, it is up to the district attorney's office after reviewing the police report to decide whether or not to file charges concerning the incident that you are writing about.

The police officer is required to write up a report about the incident and submit it to the district attorney's office in the county and state where the incident occurred.


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