Wrongly Accused of Stealing After Running from the Police

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Pennsylvania.

My son and his friend walked to a store for a drink. Upon their way back an officer started after them in his car. Needless to say, they both ran. The officer caught my sons friend. My son happened to escape. Upon questioning my sons friend he lied to the cops not wanting to "rat" my son out as to who he was.

My son proceeds to tell me that he and his friend left their school, around the time this so called theft occured, which is all on school surveillance video, walked to a grocery store to purchase drinks. My son did not go in he waited outside. When his friend returned they started walking back to the school along a path behind the store. This is when a cop pulled up on them. They ran because they are stupid kids and were afraid. My son got away. Next thing is I am getting a call from a cop stating that my son fits the description of a person that just stole something from another store. This store is not next to the grocery store they were in, it is at least a 10-15minute walk away. In fact, they were NEVER in this store that day where this alleged theft took place. My son is being charged because he fits the description, he ran from cops and his friend lied to protect him.

What are my options? I know we will need a lawyer.

What makes you think there are any options? You get him a lawyer and defend against the charges.

If the friend stole from the store he went in to, depending on the circumstances he may be able to be charged with the same crime or as an accesssory to that crime.

As to the second crime; it’s odd your son matches the description of whomever stole something there. If the victim actually identifies your son, well, sure hope he can prove he was at the other store committing a crime at the precise time.

It never fails. Parent always think their kid couldn't be capable of such a thing and their is evidence to the contrary I tell you!

Look, as a parent of one adult and one surly irritating teenager I can tell you that they are capable of far more than they'll tell you. Get an attorney and smack your kid in the head.

My son and his friend were NEVER in the store that this crime happened at. In fact at the time of the so called crime, they can be seen on their schools security cameras leaving campus to go to the store. This cop never even seen my son to even know if this was him. Just because he matched the description of the suspect???

I’m curious as to how much of this story you have actually confirmed as opposed to simply this is what your son has told you. Your tone implies that you find it perfectly reasonable that two kids, innocently walking home from the store, with no reason to believe that they might be suspected of any wrongdoing, would suddenly become “afraid” and run away just because a cop car was traveling down the road in their direction. To me, running from the mere sight of a cop indicates a knowledge of guilt. I drive a marked police car around town 40 hours a week – it is pretty rare to see someone suddenly bolt at the mere sight of me. On the rare occasions that it happens, it is almost always what we professionals call “a clue.”

They were not even at the store that this crime was commited at!!! Did they run? Yes. They are kids and do not know better. Are they wrong of that? Yes. But they were walking TOWARDS the area of the store that the crime was commited at not away from it. Nor were they even at it! This officer is going by...my kid matched the description of the thief? He never even seen my kid!!! Just cause he had a grey sweatshirt on and ran?

Again.....they were no where in the vicinity of the store the crime was commited at! Store security and school cameras WILL PROVE THIS!

And the cop didn't just LEISURELY pull up on them. He flew up on them. Revving his engine as he hit the gas per the both boys. He says he did not to both myself and husband. Funny thing is, where this happened, there are security cameras on the building.

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Quoting Concernedparent17

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They were not even at the store that this crime was commited at!!! Did they run? Yes. They are kids and do not know better. Are they wrong of that? Yes. But they were walking TOWARDS the area of the store that the crime was commited at not away from it. Nor were they even at it! This officer is going by...my kid matched the description of the thief? He never even seen my kid!!! Just cause he had a grey sweatshirt on and ran?

Again.....they were no where in the vicinity of the store the crime was commited at! Store security and school cameras WILL PROVE THIS!

And the cop didn't just LEISURELY pull up on them. He flew up on them. Revving his engine as he hit the gas per the both boys. He says he did not to both myself and husband. Funny thing is, where this happened, there are security cameras on the building.

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You need to save all this for your son's lawyer, and for court. You can plead your son's innocence here 'til the cows come home, and even if we all decide to believe your son's story (and some of us do believe it), it won't do anything to help your son. Nothing. Sorry, but at this point the only advice at this point that we can give you that might be of any help to your son is that he should get a lawyer.

If your son is lucky, then there will be surveillance video from the second store that establishes that neither he nor his friend were present at the time of the theft from that store.