What Should You Say to the Police if Arrested in Washington?

Some people have an elevator speech. A neat, tidy phrase that is supposed to sum up who they are, what they do, and why you should care. “Compassionate Counsel, Passionate Defense.” Sure, it sounds good on paper. But when you’re facing down criminal charges in Tacoma or Pierce County, Lakewood or Puyallup, what does it really tell you?

Not much.

I’m not interested in marketing myself with pithy quotes. I’m not in the business of slogans. I’m in the business of defending people—real people—in real trouble. After two decades of listening to thousands of clients in places like Gig Harbor, University Place, and across Pierce County, here’s what I can tell you: most cases don’t fall apart because of the evidence. Most cases don’t collapse because of a witness or a piece of paperwork.

They fall apart because of what my clients say—and do—when they talk to the police.

That’s why I don’t give you an elevator speech. I give you the Universal Tool.

Silence: The Universal Tool

It doesn’t matter what you’re accused of. DUI in Tacoma? Felony assault in Lakewood? Drug possession in Puyallup? It doesn’t matter if you’re guilty, innocent, or somewhere in between. It doesn’t matter if you’ve dealt with the system before or if this is your first time seeing the flashing lights in your rearview mirror.

You have one job:

Say Nothing except:

“Officer, if I am not free to go, then I want an attorney.”

Practice it. Repeat it to yourself in the mirror. Whisper it when you’re alone. Get comfortable with the words.

Because when the moment comes, you’ll need them.

Why it Matters

Here’s what two decades in criminal defense have taught me: people want to talk their way out of things. They want to explain. They want to be helpful.

They think if they just say the right thing, the officer will let them go.

But listen to me—really listen:

If the officer is going to arrest you, they are going to arrest you.

Nothing you say will talk them out of it. In fact, everything you say will probably make it worse. Trying to talk your way out is like handing the officer a bigger shovel to bury you with.

“If I am not free to go, then I want an attorney.”

This sentence does a lot of heavy lifting. First, it triggers your Sixth Amendment right to counsel earlier and more firmly. The sooner that right attaches, the better your chances.

Second, it avoids the trap of confusing “orders” and “requests.” Law enforcement officers don’t have to explain whether you’re required to answer their questions or perform a task like a Field Sobriety Test (FST). They just ask. And when you comply? They use what they learn to justify your arrest.

Refuse? They use your refusal as justification too.

The Universal Tool sidesteps the game.

Common Situations

Take a Tacoma DUI stop. The officer asks you to perform FSTs—those roadside balancing acts that look easy on TV. What do you do?

“Officer, if I am not free to go, then I want an attorney.”

Refusing FSTs can now be mentioned at trial. But imagine how much better it looks when the refusal is because you invoked your right to an attorney.

Or maybe you’re pulled over near University Place, and the officer wants to search your car. They tell you, “You might as well let us search it—we’re going to get in anyway.”

“Officer, if I am not free to go, then I want an attorney.”

Consent to search is one of the biggest pitfalls in criminal law. And trust me—that “free” attorney you asked for? They’ll tell you not to consent.

The Truth About “Free” Attorneys

You know the Miranda Rights, right?

“If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you.”

It’s true—but it’s misleading. Appointment happens later—when you’re standing in front of a judge. But right there on the street, right there in the interrogation room, there is already a lawyer available to you.

Every law enforcement agency in Pierce County and beyond must have an attorney available on call. Right now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Now.

You don’t have to afford it. You don’t have to find one. You just have to ask.

“Officer, if I am not free to go, then I want an attorney.”

That’s it.

Practice Matters

You have to get used to saying it. People are intimidated by officers—the badge, the uniform, the authority. It’s one thing to know your rights. It’s another to use them.

So practice.

Practice when you’re alone. Practice when you’re driving through Lakewood, Puyallup, or Gig Harbor. Practice until it’s muscle memory.

No Slick Tricks

I’m not here to tell you that you can outsmart the system with a clever phrase or a magic password. This isn’t a trick.

It’s protection.

You are not going to explain your way out of being arrested. You are not going to out-talk a trained investigator. You are not going to fix it by being charming or cooperative.

You’re going to make it worse.

Trust the Tool

I’ve seen it play out across Tacoma and Pierce County, from Lakewood traffic stops to Gig Harbor search warrants. When clients listen—when they stay quiet and invoke their rights—the outcomes are better.

Evidence gets suppressed. Cases get dismissed. Charges get reduced.

It’s not magic. It’s not marketing. It’s just good defense.

What Happens Next

After you’ve invoked your right, stop talking. Stop answering questions. Stop volunteering information.

When you’re released—or if you’re charged—that’s when we talk. That’s when the “Compassionate Counsel, Passionate Defense” actually matters. That’s when we go to work.

We serve clients throughout Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup, Gig Harbor, University Place, and all of Pierce County. If you’re facing charges, don’t try to handle it alone.

Use the Universal Tool.

Then call us.

Facing criminal charges in Tacoma or Pierce County? Protect your future. Contact our office today for a confidential consultation.