While on patrol with the Centervale Police Department (CPD) you are dispatched to a robbery in progress at the Centervale grocery store. You arrive to find the suspects have fled the scene. There are several witnesses inside the store including customers and two store employees. Obviously shaken, they are huddled together discussing the robbery. You know that taking witnesses' statements is a critical piece of any investigation because witnesses often hold valuable information about the incident and critical evidence. Further, witnesses also have first-hand knowledge that can be helpful in narrowing the scope towards apprehending a suspect and the eventual successful prosecution of a case. After calling in a Be on the lookout (BOLO) for the suspects and their vehicle, you proceed by separating the three witnesses inside the store in order to appropriately conduct interviews: Cashier—Connie Cousins; Maintenance manager—Larry Sweeney; and Customer—Sally Frederickson. Connie Cousins, who is noticeably upset, shares that she has seen these culprits in the store before. She states, "They have been here before, one of them knows Larry, they seemed to know right where we keep our cash and who may be able to retrieve it, me. The older guy had a huge gun; he put it right in my face. He's the one that drove the vehicle that they came in." Sally Frederickson, a customer, states, "I've never seen these guys before. They had a gun and seemed to want to shoot someone. I think I can identify them if I see them again, hey, I heard one of them call that guy (pointing to Larry) by his name. Larry right?" During your investigation you develop a lead that another witness, Larry; the maintenance person of the store, is related to one of the suspects. Larry Sweeney is 80 years old and he appears mentally challenged. You learn from a fellow employee that Larry's mental capacity is below the fifth grade level. You know that it is crucial that Larry's mental capacity, his age, as well as his potential relationship to one of the suspects are factors that must be considered throughout the duration of the interview process. During your investigation you notice some communication challenges as well as some inconsistencies between witness statements. Based on your findings, you begin to theorize that Larry Sweeney might have been involved in the crime. Because you have no probable cause you continue with the investigation by gathering important information to help determine who was involved and whose level of involvement meets the legal elements in order to be appropriately charged. Two hours after the incident, a fellow police officer spots a vehicle sitting at a stoplight that matches the description of the suspect's vehicle. The officer observes two individuals sitting in the front driver's seat and front passenger's seat of the vehicle. Based on the information in the BOLO both individuals fit the descriptions that were given by witnesses at the store. The office.

1. While on patrol with the Centervale Police Department (CPD)
you are dispatched to a robbery in progress at the Centervale
grocery store. You arrive to find the suspects have fled the
scene. There are several witnesses inside the store including
customers and two store employees. Obviously shaken, they are
huddled together discussing the robbery. You know that taking
witnesses' statements is a critical piece of any investigation
because witnesses often hold valuable information about the
incident and critical evidence. Further, witnesses also have
first-hand knowledge that can be helpful in narrowing the scope
towards apprehending a suspect and the eventual successful
prosecution of a case. After calling in a Be on the lookout
(BOLO) for the suspects and their vehicle, you proceed by
separating the three witnesses inside the store in order to
appropriately conduct interviews: Cashier—Connie Cousins;
Maintenance manager—Larry Sweeney; and Customer—Sally
Frederickson.
Connie Cousins, who is noticeably upset, shares that she has
seen these culprits in the store before. She states, "They have
been here before, one of them knows Larry, they seemed to
know right where we keep our cash and who may be able to
retrieve it, me. The older guy had a huge gun; he put it right in
my face. He's the one that drove the vehicle that they came in."
Sally Frederickson, a customer, states, "I've never seen these
guys before. They had a gun and seemed to want to shoot
someone. I think I can identify them if I see them again, hey, I
heard one of them call that guy (pointing to Larry) by his name.
Larry right?"
During your investigation you develop a lead that another
witness, Larry; the maintenance person of the store, is related to
one of the suspects. Larry Sweeney is 80 years old and he
appears mentally challenged. You learn from a fellow employee

2. that Larry's mental capacity is below the fifth grade level. You
know that it is crucial that Larry's mental capacity, his age, as
well as his potential relationship to one of the suspects are
factors that must be considered throughout the duration of the
interview process.
During your investigation you notice some communication
challenges as well as some inconsistencies between witness
statements. Based on your findings, you begin to theorize that
Larry Sweeney might have been involved in the crime. Because
you have no probable cause you continue with the investigation
by gathering important information to help determine who was
involved and whose level of involvement meets the legal
elements in order to be appropriately charged.
Two hours after the incident, a fellow police officer spots a
vehicle sitting at a stoplight that matches the description of the
suspect's vehicle. The officer observes two individuals sitting in
the front driver's seat and front passenger's seat of the vehicle.
Based on the information in the BOLO both individuals fit the
descriptions that were given by witnesses at the store. The
officer stops the suspect's vehicle and detains the suspects
without incident. The suspects are then transported to the CPD
for further investigation. The suspects were later identified as,
14-years-old, Jerry Smith, and Scot Sweeney, 18 year-old-driver
of the vehicle.
There are many issues that must be considered when conducting
a successful investigation. In many cases, witness statements
and suspect interrogations are critical towards successful
prosecution. Because a case cannot make it into the courtroom
unless legally sound, the importance of the legal issues in the
above scenario cannot be understated.
Tasks:

3. In a 9- to 10-page Microsoft Word document, develop a plan for
the interview and/or the interrogation of the witnesses and
suspects in this case scenario. Use APA in-text citations to cite
external sources The details of your plan should include, but are
not limited to the following questions:
Identify and discuss three strategies that could be effective in
handling the multiple witnesses to the crime? Analyze
controversial research and/or theory relating to interview and
interrogation. Use this information to justify your three strategy
selections and how you might avoid eliciting false-confessions.
Describe the optimum room design for conducting this
investigation. In preparation for these interviews and
interrogations create a table of General Questions and Specific
Questions to ask the witnesses and/or suspects. Analyze each
question and provide your rationale for why you would ask the
witnesses or suspects each question.
The situation with witness/suspect, Larry Sweeney, needs to be
handled carefully for many reasons. Evaluate this situation: will
you be conducting an interview or an interrogation? Explain the
reason for your decision to conduct either an interview or an
interrogation. What strategies will you employ to effectively
interview or interrogate Larry and uncover his involvement in
this criminal case? How will your personal attributes interrelate
with the strategies you selected?
Evaluate the legal implications that need to be considered when
interrogating juveniles, the elderly, and individuals with
questionable mental capacity. What laws, case law, and
Constitutional Amendments are involved? Evaluate the
differences between Larry Sweeney and Jerry Smith.