The first stage of any criminal charge is a criminal investigation. In many instances the police will neither contact a suspected individual nor inform them that there is an active investigation. At this stage the police will receive word that a crime has been committed. The police will then investigate, which could include: taking to friends and family; search and seizure of your electronics, vehicle, and home; and conducting photo line-ups. 

 

The police may not initially make contact for several reasons including: 

1. The police believe there is valuable evidence in the suspect's possession, 

2. The police are afraid the suspected individual may flee, or 

3. The police need to gather more evidence or proof of wrongdoing such as a controlled buy of narcotics. 

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The police have enormous resources including state-of-the-art tools, crime labs, undercover agents, and informants. 

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If you suspect that you're under police investigation, now is the time to speak with a Zanesville criminal defense attorney. Once the police start an investigation, it is highly unlikely that criminal charges will not follow. 

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The next step after the investigation:

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