What should I do? I NEED HELP!

[Arewethereyet]

okay, unfortunately I am in a serious bind. this girl (ms. x) lived with us for a month, i then told her to move out because my roommate had been ripping her off, and that she had been paying way more than she needed to for rent. she moved out, and she left a friend's scooter behind. well, now the motorcycle is missing/stolen, she thinks i am the one involved, but i told her i wasn't. i told her to direct any questions she had to my roommate (mr z), but i guess mr z had been ignoring her. now she has involved the cops and threatened the use of a lawyer. ms x wants me and mr z to talk to the police to fill out a report, but i told her i don't have any involvement nor do i want to get involved (ms x thinks that mr z sold or stole the motorcycle). she apparently heard from a friend and how i asked him how to sell a motorcycle without a title, which actually wasn't true, it wasn't me and i never asked that exact question! i don't want any involvement with the police because i am applying to local departments with a career in law enforcement and i don't want this stupid incident to hold me back. please, i need help, she won't leave me alone and insists that i stole her motorcycle, but i really didn't! what do i do? i have tried talking to her but the only thing she says is that we're going to talk to the cops.

[Tim Dees]

Trying to avoid involving the police is going to bring you more grief than coming forward. If you didn't have anything to do with the disappearance of the scooter, you have nothing to worry about. No agency is going to hold it against you for being the person who reports a crime, or has information about one. Your worst offense here seems to have been in picking a roommate of questionable character.

If you come forward, it's your word against Ms. X's. If you try to dodge it, it's Ms. X's word against nothing. Your call.

[Desert DPS]

I couldn't agree more.

[Arewethereyet]

should i initiate the process by contacting local police and submitting a report? or should i submit a report with ms x? i have no problem coming forward, i just didn't want any involvement at all.

[PhilipCal]

should i initiate the process by contacting local police and submitting a report? or should i submit a report with ms x? i have no problem coming forward, i just didn't want any involvement at all.

If you come forward, by definition, you're involved. Read Tim's post again. Good advice.

[Arewethereyet]

the saddest thing is, i know what happened to the motorcycle, mr z sold it, and its up to my moral and ethical judgement to report him or not...a good friend for almost 4 years...any advice?

[Presence]

"i have no problem coming forward, i just didn't want any involvement at all."

Coming forward indicates involvement. Not necessarily a bad thing, but if you know what happened, and you don't want to be fingered with the guilt, I think it would be logical to let the truth come out.


You know whether he actually stole it or not.

You know what is right and what is wrong.

You have to make the determination, no one here can do that.


Maybe you can talk to your buddy. Maybe he can buy the bike back and settle this without getting LE involvement.

[Fëanor]

the saddest thing is, i know what happened to the motorcycle, mr z sold it, and its up to my moral and ethical judgement to report him or not...a good friend for almost 4 years...any advice?Up until this point I saw no reason for you to come forward.

However I think it will cause problems with a career in law enforcement if you just recently allowed a thief to go free because you didn't want to rat our your buddy.

[Arewethereyet]

for those of you who replied i really appreciate the input, there comes a time where there's the right thing to do, and then there is looking out for your best friend. i know what i am prepared to do, it just sucks when people are mad at you, but unfortunately, one person will have to suffer whether it be mr z or ms x. thanks all

[irishdep]

If you know what happened to the bike you are going to be involved sooner or later. If the girl who owns the bike files a report and the police question you and you don't give them the truth, an accessory after the fact or an obstruction of justice charge will get you into a police department a little differently then how you pictured.

[Arewethereyet]

lol you're right

[Kieth M.]

the saddest thing is, i know what happened to the motorcycle, mr z sold it, and its up to my moral and ethical judgement to report him or not...a good friend for almost 4 years...any advice?

There are BI and oral interview questions which deal with this kind of situation. Most applicants have to answer hypothetically, you're actually living it.

Any police employer wants to know that you'll do the right thing when another rogue officer does the wrong thing. How would your answer go? "Well, I didn't report my roommate when he sold the scooter, but you can bet I'll report any fellow officer who commits a wrongful act." They won't buy your answer based on your prior behavior.

[Arewethereyet]

is it too late to report it even though it happened like last week? you guys have no idea how much this has been bugging me. i really want to do the right thing here, but i also have to look out for my well being since i live with this guy and i don't want him to do anything stupid to me or my stuff (he has a history of that also).

[Kieth M.]

i also have to look out for my well being since i live with this guy and i don't want him to do anything stupid to me or my stuff (he has a history of that also).

Why are you on line with us? You need to be packing your bags and boxing up your stuff.....hastily!

[Fëanor]

Of course it is not too late to report it. Also, the police should be accomodating if you want to turn him in anonymously.

I would move. Why would you live with a thief who you can't trust?

[timmyturner]

the saddest thing is, i know what happened to the motorcycle, mr z sold it, and its up to my moral and ethical judgement to report him or not...a good friend for almost 4 years...any advice?

Show some moral courage and report it. Then get a better class of friend.

[Presence]

it is all about integrity, man...

and ^ what timmy said.

And, the more i read your posts, the more your friend sounds like a real low-life anyway...you shouldn't hang around with people like that - he's already dragging you down just by association. Do yourself a favor and cut him loose. Get the heck out of dodge.

[enviroguy]

You are going to be in law enforcement.

He is your "best friend".

So .... :rolleyes:

Yer' best friend has "done some wierd stuff (has a history).

Yer' best friend was ripping this girl off.

Yer' best friend stole the scooter and sold it.

Now, with all of that in mind, are you willing to get jammed up on the job during your rookie phase cause "yer' besss friend" was dropping your name?

Time to start looking for a new friend. This one is a train wreck looking for a place to happen.

[Fëanor]

Now, with all of that in mind, are you willing to get jammed up on the job during your rookie phase cause "yer' besss friend" was dropping your name?Such a good point. I can see it now:

"You're under arrest for possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, and driving under the influence."

"You don't know who I am! My roommate _____ is a cop and he'll have your badge for this! I want to talk to _____ right now!"

I'm sure it's been tried more than once. People will say anything to try to get out of going to jail. Do you think he would worry about your reputation? I don't.

[tactical208]

Unfortunately it is not your decision about getting involved or not. If this girl calls the police and gives them your name, your involved whether you want to be or not. Best thing for you to do is be 100% honest and truthful, if you avoid the police you will only draw attention to yourself. If you end up going through a background check and they see that you were uncooperative with an investigation you can pretty much kiss the law enforcement career goodbye. Agencies want honest, trustworthy people, not one's that don't want to get involved and avoid a police investigation.

If your buddy did something funy with the bike then you better tell the police the whole truthful story, once you lie there's no going back and trust me, we have a way of finding things out. It may not be today, or even next week, but when you least expect it, then expect it. Your buddy isn't your buddy when it comes down to breaking the law. He will set you out to fry as long as it keeps his behind out of jail. Do the right thing.

[Arewethereyet]

you guys are all so right! anyway, what my biggest decision is should i initiate the investigation now by contacting local law enforcement or divulge the truth when the police come knockin? either way i'm ready to give up my so called "friend." its so funny cuz he wants me to tell the police this story to cover his *** too...

[Smurfette_76]

I"m sorry, I'm going to be blunt and answer this exactly how I feel. Your friend commited a crime and YOU cannot seem to decide if you should or should not help the victim by telling her what happened? Are you serious? This isn't a serious bind, this is a no-brainer! Put on your big boy pants and handle the situation for heaven's sake. If this is difficult for you and you honestly can't see what the RIGHT thing to do is, then you should reconsider your decision to attempt a career in LE.

[Gene L]

Cooperate with the police and fill out the report. Don't act like you're acting now unless you want to draw a lot of unwanted attention.

[scratched13]

I agree with running scissors girl ....... to a point. We ALL have had friends who have done the wrong thing. We have all had friends who have been jammed up and were about to get in trouble. We have all NOT had friends who could go to jail over such issues.

Let's look at this a little differenty: You stop an off duty cop for severe speeding, but you take no official action because he is a buddy. Why not? They broke the law, even WORSE than most that you would cite for much less. You don't want to hurt a buddy/we stick together/thin blue line/etc. There are some here who would not even CONSIDER charging a fellow cop with DUI unless someone was severely hurt. Why not? Same various reasons.

Maybe ..... just maybe ..... it is also because we don't want to hurt someone we like or we don't want to get involved because of the similar reasons that this guy doesn't.

I am not saying that I don't agree with the responses, though.

[Wile E. Coyote]

she apparently heard from a friend and how i asked him how to sell a motorcycle without a title, which actually wasn't true, it wasn't me and i never asked that exact question!EXACT question? As in you asked some other question? *sniff sniff* Doesn't smell right.

[malka881]

I agree with running scissors girl ....... to a point. We ALL have had friends who have done the wrong thing. We have all had friends who have been jammed up and were about to get in trouble. We have all NOT had friends who could go to jail over such issues.

Let's look at this a little differenty: You stop an off duty cop for severe speeding, but you take no official action because he is a buddy. Why not? They broke the law, even WORSE than most that you would cite for much less. You don't want to hurt a buddy/we stick together/thin blue line/etc. There are some here who would not even CONSIDER charging a fellow cop with DUI unless someone was severely hurt. Why not? Same various reasons.

Maybe ..... just maybe ..... it is also because we don't want to hurt someone we like or we don't want to get involved because of the similar reasons that this guy doesn't.

I am not saying that I don't agree with the responses, though.

True, but doing something and likeing it are two different things. Doing what's right, even when you don't want to, is one of the defining points of character.

His buddy clearly has some kind of expensive habit to support, the ability to both commit and rationalize theft, and the desire to involve a friend in committing further criminal acts to avoid punishment. It's time to get the guy some help, and the court-mandated variety is looking like the best option.

[malka881]

EXACT question? As in you asked some other question? *sniff sniff* Doesn't smell right.

I was wondering who else was going to catch that...;)

[Arewethereyet]

oh my bad guys, what i was trying to say was that i never asked the question she implied i did, its so bogus. it sucks when the finger is being pointed at you when only you know what really happened.

[SgtScott31]

oh my bad guys, what i was trying to say was that i never asked the question she implied i did, its so bogus. it sucks when the finger is being pointed at you when only you know what really happened.

Sounds to me that you knew the whole time that your (punk-thief) friend sold the bike. Doesn't matter what the rumors are, or who said what. You have direct knowledge that a stolen bike was sold. That could land you in some hot water, even if you were not directly involved in the selling of the bike. Go to your female friend and tell her the truth. Screw "Mr. z."

[barr151]

Just to make this clear, I have problems with your story. Even though you claim to have come clean about what you know, I still feel there is more (along with most other cops here).

To make this right, let the girl know what happened to the bike. For the incident to be an official crime, she has to report it. Let her and the cops know you will cooperate and tell what you know. While doing this, you should be moving (like yesterday).

After this matter gets resolved, then take a good look at yourself to determine if this is the career path for you.

[texaschickeee]

First off, you stated that you knew your friend mr Z wqas charging her too much money for rent. But you kept quiet untill it ate your lunch (or somehting else happend and then...) you "told her" to move out, with this info. ( or did you even tell her that??)

If she was any where on the lease she cant just move out, she has to be taken off the lease. was that done? was she even leagally there?

Secondly, your "friend" the one that over charged her for a couple months AND took the scooter that she left, sold it and got more money from it.... and now she is coming after you? I think theres some more involement here then implied, stated or otherwise noted. Personally I agree with the ones that say you need a better class of friends, but I would look very carefully at YOUR actions here. (birds of a feather...)

You didnt tell her she was over charged UNTILL it worked to your advantage. Be that your judgement had problems letting her pay more rent then she should have, be it that you or Mr. Z needed the room or be it a fight or something happend then she was ...gone.

Now that she left something of value , and Mr. Z,whom has a (reported)history of treating her unfairly (the rent stuff...) sold the scooter (actully that would come under theft due to he took it WITH OUT permission) and got money for it when he sold it, and did not give her that money....
and you question whether or not to bring the cops into this with her threatening to go to them, take you to small claims and other actions?
and your worried becasue you wnat to be a cop. I think any department might think twice with this drama before giving you the judgement of law enforment. You have aloty of issues with this one situation and its not even 6 weeks going I would bet.

[texaschickeee]

oh my bad guys, what i was trying to say was that i never asked the question she implied i did, its so bogus. it sucks when the finger is being pointed at you when only you know what really happened.

excuse me, but if only you knew what happend why is it that Mr. Z sold the scooter, and kept the money, with out his knowledge? :rolleyes:

[Arewethereyet]

So it has been a few months since this issue of grand larceny had occurred. Mr. Z got charged with grand larceny as well as felony forgery/uttering (forged bill of sale). Well guess what, I got subpoenaed as a witness to testify in court, big surprise huh? Any suggestions for any of you LEO's that have testified in court? I'm just nervous, and after watching numerous amounts of Law and Order, I feel like no matter how honest I am, the defense attorney always trips you up with words tarnishing your credibility.

[Contact]

So it has been a few months since this issue of grand larceny had occurred. Mr. Z got charged with grand larceny as well as felony forgery/uttering (forged bill of sale). Well guess what, I got subpoenaed as a witness to testify in court, big surprise huh? Any suggestions for any of you LEO's that have testified in court? I'm just nervous, and after watching numerous amounts of Law and Order, I feel like no matter how honest I am, the defense attorney always trips you up with words tarnishing your credibility.

Man up and be as honest as you can.

I once heard from an officer something along the lines of this, and it always stuck with me:

You can get away with almost anything in this job, you can search someone you weren't supposed to, you can raid the wrong house, you can even get away with shooting the WRONG GUY...but don't ever, ever, ever lie about it, or withhold information.

Remember, if you are honest as you can be, you can't be tripped up.

[tn_gunslinger]

Why hasn't this girl filed a report? She is the victim, yes?

Seems to me the process should go something like this:
1. girl reports stolen item
2. girl provides names of people who may have information (you)
3. police contact you and ask for interview
4. you answer questions truthfully, regardless of consequences to your "friend"
5. police find friend, charge with theft

[Iszi]

Why hasn't this girl filed a report? She is the victim, yes?

Seems to me the process should go something like this:
1. girl reports stolen item
2. girl provides names of people who may have information (you)
3. police contact you and ask for interview
4. you answer questions truthfully, regardless of consequences to your "friend"
5. police find friend, charge with theft

Looks like you missed a couple posts. The OP just said it's been a few months and his friend is now facing the charges, and he is being subpoenaed as a witness. (Wow, did I really spell that right? My spell-checker says so, but I don't believe it!)

[JSD73]

Wait a sec.....it's her "friends" scooter? Then her friend needs to be the one to pony up and file the report, other than that she can just go pack sand for all I care.

Moving on, this to me is a border line civil matter anyways....but if the police happen to get involved then step up and tell them what you know.

[pujolsfan146]

By stonewalling law enforcement you are going to make yourself look guilty. I would speak with the officer handling the case. Be sincere and genuine with him and you will be fine.

I realize this is your friend but when you get in this field you will tick friends off. If he was a true friend he wouldn't put you in this position.

Perhaps you told the wrong roommate to leave?

[pujolsfan146]

oh my bad guys, what i was trying to say was that i never asked the question she implied i did, its so bogus. it sucks when the finger is being pointed at you when only you know what really happened.

Watch what you say. If you are the only one who knows what happened wouldn't that make you the thief?

[Arewethereyet]

no, a few other people know, and her "friend" did pursue charges, which is why he was arrested. so now its the preliminary hearing, i'm subpoenaed as a witness to testify what I know since I was the one who did come forward.

[Arewethereyet]

The problem with my ex-roommate/ex-friend is that he's in trouble because he got caught, not because he did something very illegal.

[Presence]

?

I don't know where you come from, but stealing and reselling stolen property is pretty illegal where I come from...

[jmat1980]

okay, unfortunately I am in a serious bind. this girl (ms. x) lived with us for a month, i then told her to move out because my roommate had been ripping her off, and that she had been paying way more than she needed to for rent. she moved out, and she left a friend's scooter behind. well, now the motorcycle is missing/stolen, she thinks i am the one involved, but i told her i wasn't. i told her to direct any questions she had to my roommate (mr z), but i guess mr z had been ignoring her. now she has involved the cops and threatened the use of a lawyer. ms x wants me and mr z to talk to the police to fill out a report, but i told her i don't have any involvement nor do i want to get involved (ms x thinks that mr z sold or stole the motorcycle). she apparently heard from a friend and how i asked him how to sell a motorcycle without a title, which actually wasn't true, it wasn't me andi never asked that exact question! i don't want any involvement with the police because i am applying to local departments with a career in law enforcement and i don't want this stupid incident to hold me back. please, i need help, she won't leave me alone and insists that i stole her motorcycle, but i really didn't! what do i do? i have tried talking to her but the only thing she says is that we're going to talk to the cops.


What 'exact' question did you ask?

My advice: Take your story to Jerry Springer...him and his staff are true professionals at handling incidents just like yours!!

[Iszi]

The problem with my ex-roommate/ex-friend is that he's in trouble because he got caught, not because he did something very illegal.

Wait... you're applying for LE and you don't think that your ex-roomie doing "something very illegal" is a problem as long as he doesn't get caught?

[Arewethereyet]

No sorry, I worded that wrong. HE feels that the reason why he is where he is because he got caught, not because he did something illegal. He likes to blame all his problems on everyone else instead of taking responsibility of his actions. He is a sociopath. I know he did something very illegal, why do you think he is soon to be a convicted felon?