Can the police legally force a person to set someone else up for arrest?

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Can the police legally force a person to set someone else up for arrest?

The police came to my house and asked to search it because they had an anonymous tip that my husband was selling drugs. I signed a consent to search form because my husband doesn’t sell drugs. They searched and found old hand scales and a little bag with “green residue” in the back of an old desk in our attic. They wrote it down and left. One of the officers called. He told my husband that if he doesn’t call someone and set them up to sell him weed so they can be arrested then they are going to put him in jail. Can they?

Asked on April 15, 2012 under Criminal Law, South Carolina

Answers:

Maury Beaulier / Minnesota Lawyers.com

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

The cannot "force" a person to cooperate in seeking conviction of another.  However, it is legal for them to ask a person to do so and it is also not illegal for law enforcement to lie when seeking cooperation.

In most cases, even if a person assists police, they will be charged when that cooperation ends.  As a result, it is best to exercise your rights to remain silent and immediately consult with a criminal defense attorney.

For a consultation in Minensota call 612.240.8005 


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