Columbia Assault and Battery Arrests
Immediately following an accusation of assault, law enforcement moves quickly. They will issue and try to serve a warrant. The person will then be arrested and then be required to go to the bond hearing. Those who have been charged with a crime you should seek help from an assault and battery attorney as soon as possible. They could help you understand the Columbia assault and battery arrests process and can advise you of your legal options.
Steps Immediately After an Arrest
Once someone is arrested for assault and battery in Columbia, two things happen. If the assault just occurred, the alleged victim will file a complaint with the police about the assault. The law enforcement officer will investigate the complaint and would make a decision whether there was probable cause to draft an arrest warrant and it to a magistrate judge.
If there was probable cause for the crime, they would issue the warrant, sign the warrant, and try to serve the warrant. They would find the person accused, the defendant of the case, and serve the warrant. By service means they would arrest them. Once a person is arrested, they have 24 hours to have a bond hearing. They would get scheduled for a first appearance and then a second appearance.
The first thing a person should do when charged with assault and battery in Columbia is to contact an experienced lawyer who has a great reputation. The second thing a person should do is write down everything that happens so they remember it, making sure to know who, what, when, where, how, and why of everything, so they do not forget any of the critical pieces of information. The third thing should be to listen to their lawyer’s advice and trust that they have the experience to be successful or at least put them into the best position possible to be successful.
Assault and Battery Investigations
In Columbia, what an assault investigation typically looks like depends on who the officer is. Some officers investigate the case more in-depth than others. Some officers do minimal investigation and just sign a warrant, which should also be signed by the magistrate. A good police officer is going to try to get statements from all the witnesses, including the who, what, when, where, how, and why of the case. They would find out where it happened, who was there, and what witnesses were there. They would get as many statements as possible, find out if there were there any injuries, take photographs of the scene, and try to map out exactly what happened.
Let an Assault and Battery Attorney Help
A person should contact an attorney as soon as possible. An attorney could start to protect their rights, build the best defense possible, and act as a shield between the person and the government. The lawyer is going to put them in the best position possible, to try to build a strategic plan of defense, and to try to lay out what the legal defenses are. They would know what information is necessary, what independent investigation needs to be done, and the best to mount a defense against the charges.
Schedule an appointment with a diligent attorney to learn about what to do following Columbia assault and battery arrests.