Filing a False Police Report
I had a car accident and I got scared and fled the scene (I was the only car that wrecked). The Police came and questioned me and I told them that the car was stolen. About 2 weeks later I got a phone call from the police dept asking me to come in and give them a written statement. Should I be worried that they know the car wasn't stolen or is this standard procedure? They told me they will prosocute me for filing a false report if that turns out to be the case. I live in Tx, what is the penalty for filing a report like this?
Re: Filing a False Police Report
That's a valid concern, and even moreso if you filed an insurance claim. Consult a criminal defense lawyer.
Re: Filing a False Police Report
I'm gonna guess that you were also inebriated when you crashed the car.
It is not uncommon for people who get into a DUI crash to flee and then report the car stolen later in an attempt to relieve themselves of liability. That is why one of the first things we do at these scenes is look for evidence that the car was actually stolen and not taken with the keys, and also for evidence of alcohol consumption (puke, alcohol, bottles, etc.)
As Aaron suggested, consult an attorney ASAP.
- Carl