Michigan Criminal Investigation Lawyer

Has a detective contacted you? Christopher Brown is a Michigan criminal investigation lawyer and former police officer who knows how investigators build cases. He steps in before charges are filed to protect your rights.

Michigan Criminal Investigation Lawyer Christopher Brown

Expert criminal investigations defense representation by former police officer Christopher Brown over 25 years of experience

The investigation phase is often the most important stage of a criminal case. Many people first learn they’re a suspect when a detective calls—or when police arrest them. By that time, law enforcement has usually prepared a plan to ask targeted questions, gather admissions, and position you near the scene, a motive, or a key relationship.

Police receive training in interrogation. As a former police officer, Attorney Christopher Brown understands how police structure interviews. He also knows what officers look for and how they design seemingly harmless questions to elicit damaging statements. Today, he uses that inside knowledge to protect you, control risk, and shape outcomes from the very beginning.

Bottom line: The earlier you bring Attorney Brown into the investigation, the better positioned you are to avoid missteps, manage contact with law enforcement, and pursue resolutions that minimize or even prevent charges.

Recent Results: Investigations That Ended Without Charges

The best time to call a Michigan criminal investigation lawyer is before a warrant request reaches the prosecutor. These recent cases show what early action can accomplish.

Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Assault & Battery Investigation — Prosecutor Denied the Warrant Request (Macomb County)

Our client was officiating a sporting event when a participant became unruly and was ejected. A physical altercation followed, and our client defended himself.

The detective interviewed the participant’s family, heard only one side of the story, then called our client, pressing him for a statement and suggesting he would likely be charged if he didn’t talk.

We were retained immediately. We interviewed three witnesses and coordinated their contact with the detective so the complete account was on record.

After reviewing the full statements, the prosecutor denied the warrant request. No charges were filed.

Fraud Investigation — No Charges Filed (Oakland County)

Our client was investigated for fraud after buying a vehicle and reselling it to another dealership within a week. Investigators suspected misuse of an employee discount and a kickback.

Our office was retained immediately. We gathered the timeline and the circumstances behind the quick sale and laid out the facts showing our client’s innocent intent.

No fraud charges were filed.

Why this matters: Both investigations ended before a charge was ever filed. That meant no arraignment, no court dates, and no criminal case on our clients’ records.

See more of our case results

What to Do if the Police Contact You

1. Get the detective’s name and phone number.
2. Do not provide a statement. Tell the officer you wish to speak with a lawyer first.
3. Call (248) 468-1468 to have Attorney Brown handle communications and next steps.

Note: Officers may not share details during an active investigation. That’s normal—don’t try to “explain it away” without counsel.

What a Detective Is Really Asking For

When a detective calls and says they want to “hear your side,” it can sound like a friendly chance to clear things up. It isn’t. It’s part of the investigation.

A detective may be trying to:

• Get admissions or details that can be checked against other evidence
• Compare your account with witness statements, video, phone records, or forensic evidence
• Get your consent to search your home, car, phone, or computer
• Set up a pretext call, polygraph, or DNA sample
• Decide whether to send a warrant request to the prosecutor

Your answers may be recorded or summarized in a police report. Being told you are “not a suspect” or that it “will only take a few minutes” doesn’t change that.

What to Say When a Detective Calls

Be polite and keep it short: “I will not answer questions or do an interview without speaking with my lawyer. Please contact my lawyer.”

If you already have a lawyer, say: “I am represented by counsel. Please contact my lawyer about this matter.”

Then stop. Don’t argue, guess at dates, or try to explain. Don’t delete messages or change anything on your phone, and don’t ask anyone else to.

Save the call log, voicemail, texts, and any business card or letter the detective left. Your lawyer will want them.

Police Interrogations & Your Rights

The Fifth Amendment protects your privilege against self-incrimination—your right to remain silent. Officers may suggest you “don’t need a lawyer unless you did something wrong” or hint that you must cooperate to avoid arrest. Prosecutors cannot use your decision to invoke your rights against you, and having counsel is your best protection.

When Miranda Applies — and When It Doesn’t

Police only have to read Miranda warnings when two things are both true: you are in custody (under arrest or restrained in a way similar to arrest) and they are questioning you. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).

A “voluntary” interview at the station, on the phone, or at your front door usually requires no warning, even if you are the main suspect. If you aren’t sure whether you can leave, ask: “Am I free to leave?”

Don’t assume that a missing warning means your words can’t be used against you.

Staying Silent: Say It Out Loud

Many people believe silence alone protects them. In a voluntary interview, that isn’t always true.

In Salinas v. Texas, 570 U.S. 178 (2013), the U.S. Supreme Court’s lead opinion concluded that a person who is voluntarily answering questions generally must expressly invoke the Fifth Amendment; simply going quiet may not be enough. Michigan courts have also allowed pre-arrest silence to be used in some situations.

The safe approach is to say clearly: “I am invoking my right to remain silent, and I want a lawyer.” Then stop answering questions.

Should You Ever Talk to Police?

“Never talk to the police” is a popular refrain—and often correct. However, every case is unique. After reviewing the facts, Attorney Brown may recommend a limited, strategic interview when it could meaningfully reduce exposure—for example, facilitating restitution in a document-heavy financial case or correcting a misunderstanding before the prosecutor authorizes charges.

How Criminal Charges Are Filed in Michigan: The Warrant Request

In Michigan, a detective can’t file charges alone. When police finish an investigation, they send a warrant request (a proposed complaint with the police report and evidence) to the county prosecutor.

The prosecutor decides whether to authorize charges and which charge, if any, the evidence supports.

A judge or magistrate must then find probable cause before issuing an arrest warrant or a summons, which is an order to appear in court. MCL 764.1a. In many cases, a summons can be issued instead of an arrest warrant.

That review period is where a Michigan criminal investigation lawyer can make the biggest difference.

How a Lawyer Can Help Before Charges Are Filed

Before the prosecutor makes a decision, Attorney Brown can:

• Contact the detective or prosecutor to find out whether a warrant request is pending
• Require that all contact go through your lawyer instead of you
• Gather witness statements, documents, and timelines that correct errors or fill gaps in the police account
• Present a written, evidence-backed summary to the prosecutor when it helps your case
• Decide whether you should give a statement at all and, if so, under what conditions
• Arrange a summons or planned surrender if charges are authorized
• Help preserve evidence that supports you, like video, texts, or location data that can disappear

No lawyer can promise what a prosecutor will decide. But a prosecutor who sees the whole picture before deciding is very different from one who has seen only the police report.

This applies to every kind of investigation, including assault, domestic violence, fraud and theft, drug, firearm, and sex crime allegations.

Search Warrants: Your Home, Phone, and Computer

If police arrive with a search warrant, stay calm and don’t physically interfere. Ask to see the warrant and, if you can, take a photo of it. Write down the officers’ names, their agency, where they searched, and what they took.

Say clearly: “I do not consent to any search beyond the warrant.” Then call a Michigan criminal investigation lawyer.

Michigan law requires a search warrant to be supported by a sworn affidavit showing probable cause (MCL 780.653), and requires officers to make a complete tabulation of everything seized and leave a copy (MCL 780.655).

Your lawyer should promptly review the warrant, the affidavit, and the inventory, because mistakes in any of them can matter later.

Searches of Cell Phones and Computers

A warrant to seize your phone isn’t unlimited permission to search everything on it.

The Michigan Supreme Court has held that a digital search must be aimed at evidence of the crime described in the warrant, not a general fishing expedition: “A search warrant allows the state to examine property only to the extent authorized by the warrant.” People v. Hughes, 506 Mich 512 (2020).

Michigan appellate courts have continued to stress that phone warrants should be specific about the crime, the types of data, and, where possible, the time period.

Don’t unlock your device, give a passcode, delete anything, or agree to a search without first talking to a lawyer, and never physically resist a seizure.

Pretext Calls, Polygraphs, and DNA Requests

Pretext calls: Police may have someone you know, often the person making the accusation, call or text you while officers record. The caller may sound upset or ask you to apologize or explain.

This tactic is common in sex crime and domestic violence investigations. A familiar voice doesn’t make the conversation private. Talk to a lawyer before responding to anyone connected to the case.

Polygraphs: You don’t have to take a polygraph. Polygraph results are generally not admissible at trial in Michigan, but what you say before and after the test can be.

If a polygraph makes strategic sense, your lawyer should arrange it and review the conditions, waiver forms, and recording first.

DNA, phone, and consent requests: A request is not a court order. You can ask whether it’s voluntary and say: “I do not consent. Please speak with my lawyer.”

If officers have a warrant or court order, don’t resist. Your lawyer can challenge it later.

Turning Yourself In on a Warrant in Oakland County and Across Michigan

If you think a warrant may have been issued, don’t ignore it, and don’t just show up at the courthouse.

Attorney Brown can confirm whether a warrant exists and, where the court allows it, arrange a planned surrender and arraignment. Planning ahead can reduce the risk of an arrest at home or work and lets your lawyer be ready to argue for your release at arraignment.

No one can guarantee release, and whether a court allows a “walk-in” arraignment depends on the court, the charge, and the warrant, so confirm the process with your lawyer first.

We handle surrenders in district courts throughout Oakland County and Metro Detroit.

For more on walk-in arraignments, bond types, and motions to lower bond, see our Michigan warrant lawyer page.

How Long Can Police Wait to Charge You? Michigan’s Statute of Limitations

There’s no single deadline. Under MCL 767.24, many offenses must be charged within six years, some serious crimes have longer periods, and some, including murder and first-degree criminal sexual conduct, can be charged at any time.

Time spent living outside Michigan may not count toward the deadline.

An investigation that has gone quiet isn’t necessarily over. A lawyer can check the exact offense and dates in your situation.

Common Mistakes During a Criminal Investigation

• Agreeing to “just a few minutes” because you’re told you aren’t a suspect
• Guessing at dates or trying to explain inconsistencies without your records
• Assuming a voluntary interview is protected by Miranda
• Consenting to a search of your home, car, phone, or computer
• Taking a polygraph, making a call, or giving DNA before talking to a lawyer
• Posting about the investigation, or contacting the accuser or witnesses, or asking someone else to
• Deleting texts, photos, or files, which can lead to new charges
• Waiting too long to save video, messages, or location data that helps you
• Ignoring a possible warrant

Crime Classifications in Michigan

The length of potential incarceration generally determines how an offense is classified.

Misdemeanors (Handled in District Court)

• Punishable by up to one (1) year in county jail.
• Common charges include: Retail Fraud, Domestic Violence, OWI/Drunk Driving (1st/2nd), High BAC (“Super Drunk”), Driving While License Suspended, Malicious Destruction of Property, Disorderly Conduct, Reckless Driving, Hit & Run, Public Intoxication, Assault & Battery.

Felonies (Handled in Circuit Court after Preliminary Exam)

Punishable by more than one (1) year, up to life, in state prison. Michigan Sentencing Guidelines classify offenses by maximum penalty:

• Class A: up to life
• Class B: up to 20 years
• Class C: up to 15 years
• Class D: up to 10 years
• Class E: up to 5 years
• Class F: up to 4 years
• Class G: up to 2 years
• Class H: jail or intermediate sanctions

High-Court Misdemeanors

Michigan labels some offenses “high-court misdemeanors” (maximum of 2 years). Despite the label, certain 2-year offenses are felonies, while others—such as Criminal Sexual Conduct 4th Degree—are classified as high-court misdemeanors.

Aiding, Abetting, & Conspiracy

These carry the same potential penalty as the underlying offense if the government proves you knowingly intended to help commit the crime.

Why Choose Christopher Brown

• Former Police Officer Insight: Knows investigative playbooks, interrogation tactics, and how to neutralize them.
• Proactive Strategy: Manages detective contact, evaluates whether (and if) any statement is in your interest, and positions you for the best possible outcome early.
• Local Court Experience: Represents clients across Metro Detroit, including Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Washtenaw, and St. Clair Counties.
• Clear Communication: Straight talk about risks, leverage, and realistic goals.

As a former Detroit police officer, Attorney Brown knows how investigations are built from the inside: how detectives plan interviews, how warrant requests are written, and what prosecutors look for before authorizing charges. That experience helps him ask the right questions early and act quickly.

Attorney Brown handles criminal investigations throughout Michigan from his Troy office, serving Oakland County communities including Troy, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Southfield, Novi, Farmington Hills, West Bloomfield, and Pontiac.

Consequences of a Felony Record

A felony conviction can affect core rights and opportunities, including: voting, jury service, firearm possession, licensing, and international travel. Attorney Brown pursues dismissals, charge reductions, alternative resolutions, and sentencing outcomes tailored to your circumstances and goals.

Contact Attorney Christopher Brown

If police are investigating you or a loved one, if you received notice of a pending warrant, or if police made an arrest, call now. Early counsel helps prevent harmful statements and plan a proactive course while the case is still taking shape.

Call Attorney Christopher Brown: (248) 468-1468

Office based in Troy, Michigan. Serving Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Washtenaw, and other counties throughout Michigan.

When to Call a Michigan Criminal Investigation Lawyer

Call as soon as police contact you, ask for an interview, or request a polygraph. Many Michigan crimes can be charged years later under the time limits in MCL 767.24, so an investigation can stay open for a long time. A Michigan criminal investigation lawyer can handle communication with detectives and work to prevent charges. Investigations often involve sex crimes, theft and fraud, and drug cases. Call (248) 468-1468 for a confidential consultation.

Michigan Criminal Investigation FAQ

Do I have to talk to a detective in Michigan?

No. You can politely decline and ask the detective to contact your lawyer. Refusing an interview is your right and is not a crime. Don’t lie to police, and don’t physically resist lawful orders.

The detective said I’m “not a suspect.” Should I talk?

Be careful. Detectives often say this to keep the conversation going, and your answers can still end up in a police report or a warrant request. Talk to a lawyer first.

What is a warrant request in Michigan?

It’s the package police send to the prosecutor asking for charges to be authorized. The prosecutor decides whether to charge, and a judge or magistrate must find probable cause before a warrant or summons is issued.

Can a lawyer stop charges from being filed?

No lawyer can guarantee it, but a Michigan criminal investigation lawyer can give the prosecutor the facts the police report leaves out before a decision is made. In the cases above, that led to no charges being filed.

Will hiring a lawyer make me look guilty?

No. Detectives and prosecutors work with defense lawyers every day. Having a lawyer simply means the conversation happens the right way, through counsel.

Do police have to read me my Miranda rights?

Only if you are in custody and being questioned. Voluntary interviews usually don’t require warnings, so clearly say you want a lawyer and won’t answer questions.

What should I do if police want to search my phone?

Don’t unlock it or give your passcode, and say, “I do not consent.” If they have a warrant, don’t resist. Call a lawyer, who can review whether the warrant is valid and properly limited.