Knowing how to react when confronted by law enforcement is not easy, especially if it’s never happened to you before. You may feel intimidated and frightened, and your fight or flight response might kick in.
In short, you either want to confront the threat or run away from it. In this situation, neither is a good idea, especially running away. Running away from the police is not a valid option, and here’s why.
You place yourself in danger
Firstly, if you run from the police then they are highly likely to come after you. Even if the initial officers don’t chase you, they have backup units that they can call. They have access to CCTV cameras, they can blockade roads and bring in dogs and even high-tech equipment like helicopters, if needed.
Simply put, you aren’t going to get away. Placing yourself in the position of being pursued by law enforcement can be very dangerous. When you’re adrenalized, you may not pay attention to hazards like cars and other vehicles. You might fall from a height trying to get away.
You only worsen your case
It’s important to remember that a police officer cannot arrest you without evidence. They can approach you, they can ask questions, but you don’t have to answer them. To detain or arrest you, they need probable cause. Essentially, this means compelling evidence that a crime has been committed. If they have no evidence and you don’t run, you’ll likely be free to leave. If you run, however, police officers could claim that this is probable cause and you may be arrested. Not only that, but you could face further charges of eluding law enforcement. These charges will stand even if you are cleared of the original alleged offense.
When facing criminal charges, seeking legal guidance can help you obtain a more positive outlook for your case.