Will Charges be Filed for Indecent Exposure?

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Washington

The other day i was at my apartment and i looked out my window around 11 PM and i saw these two young adults messing around in their car. i went outside to appraoch them and they were startled and drove away. I happened to catch their license plate number and i phoned the police and they said they would try to find the vehicle i described. If they didnt happen to catch the vehicle i had in mind can they send the driver a ticket for indecent exposure weeks later just with my witnessing of their sexual act? or do they police have to catch the driver within a reasonable amount of time to give them a ticket?

thanks

Police don't get to write tickets based on witness statements.

If you were able to see genitalia from your window, you could theoretically attempt to file a formal police report, but I wouldn't count on it getting as far as criminal charges being brought by the DA's office.

Next time, don't risk your own life by going outside and walking up to a vehicle to confront individuals where some unsavory activity is taking place - people get shot and killed doing this - instead, pick up the phone and let armed and bullet-proof-vest-protected police do what they get paid for.

yeah you are right anything could of happened out there last night. next time i'll just stay in and notify the police. So basically for them to get a charge they have to be witnessed by the police or be caught within a reasonable amount of time for me to identify them?

Q: So basically for them to get a charge they have to be witnessed by the police?

A: Yes.

thanks for the help

Quote:

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Quoting thekep1014

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If they didnt happen to catch the vehicle i had in mind can they send the driver a ticket for indecent exposure weeks later just with my witnessing of their sexual act? or do they police have to catch the driver within a reasonable amount of time to give them a ticket?

thanks

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Generally, an warrantless misdemeanor arrest must be committed in the officer's presence, BUT if they have probable cause to believe a crime was committed based on your testimony, as the complainant, they can issue a citation, yes.

Felonies never have to be witnessed to effect an arrest though.

If the complaint is followed up, if an arrest is then chosen as a means of charging, they can issue a warrant on compliant.