Legal Question in Criminal Law in Georgia

I was recently at a bar with some old high school friends when a fight broke out between them and a few of the guys who work there. Prior to the fight I was trying to talk sense into my old friends and urge them not to fight. I was trying to break the tension and get my friends to just leave. Unfortunately that didn't happen and the fight broke out. I did not hit, attack, harm, so much as lay a finger on anyone at the bar. The surveillance camera clearly shows that. As I was leaving I was yelling to my friends to just leave. Then I got in my car alone and went home. Apparently men who work at the bar are pressing charges and I was contacted my the police. I tried to tell him over the phone I took no part of the fight but they want me to come in and give statements. The conversation I had with the officer over the phone made me feel like They were trying to get me involved more than I actually was.

With that being said my question is there anyway I could get in trouble for simply trying to stop these guys from fighting? Although I was not physically involved and have witnesses that can vouch for me as well as the surveillance footage? And do I have to meet the officer and provide statements? Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Asked on 5/21/14, 9:19 pm

4 Answers from Attorneys
Glen Ashman Ashman Law Office also dba Glen Ashman Attorney

You have made two huge mistakes. Any time you are at risk of arrest, you do NOT (even on the phone) talk to police without a lawyer present. And you do not wait to hire a lawyer. By 9 AM tomorrow, call your lawyer, and do not make any statements without counsel. Hopefully you have not already harmed yourself.

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Answered on 5/21/14, 9:32 pm
Scott Riddle Law Office of Scott B. Riddle, LLC

Call a good criminal lawyer today. If your story is accurate, the lawyer will likely resolve it. Assuming you have a clean record, just think what an arrest will do to you even if charges are ultimately dropped. You are playing with your future. When you get a lawyer, get rid of the friends (and don't talk to them about the story either).

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Answered on 5/22/14, 4:44 am
Ralph Villani VILLANI LAW FIRM

Never go to any facility to talk to any LEO without counsel present 100% of the time especially where you are suspect

Protect yourself and hire a criminal attorney ASAP

Call my office 770.985.6773 (accepting calls 24X7 all weekend through Memorial Day)

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Answered on 5/22/14, 8:36 am
Lawrence Lewis Lawrence Lewis, P.C.

The trouble is for fighting, NOT stopping anyone from fighting. As I told your mother when I returned her phone call, you should NOT speak to detectives PERIOD> IF they have enough to arrest you, you will be arrested. IF not, then you are not trying to help them arrest you. See website for info on retaining the right attorney: http://www.lawrencelewispc.com/pages.php?go=pinfo&PID=38

Good luck.

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Answered on 5/23/14, 8:47 am


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