When Cooperation Turns Dangerous: Understanding Your Rights with Police

This isn’t a happy story. It’s not headed to Disney+ for a feel-good reboot. But it’s a story that drives home a crucial point: when the police want answers, the only thing you should say is “Lawyer.”

Here’s what happened to Thomas Perez Jr., why it matters, and how you can protect yourself.

questioned by police

A Call for Help Turns Into a Nightmare

In August 2018, Thomas Perez Jr. called the police in Fontana, California. His father, Thomas Sr., had gone out to get the mail with the family dog but hadn’t returned. Concerned, Perez Jr. called the police for help.

But instead of assistance, he became the focus of a nightmare.

Police arrived, searched the house with his permission, and claimed to find “visible bloodstains.” A police dog allegedly “detected the presence of a corpse.” Despite Perez Jr.’s cooperation, the officers found his demeanor “suspicious” and brought him to the station for questioning.

The Interrogation: 17 Hours of Hell

The interrogation began with hours of questioning while police obtained warrants to seize Perez Jr.’s electronic devices. After some time, they took him for a drive, claiming they were looking for his father. The ride was a pretense, just another way to continue questioning him. All it accomplished was a visible decline in Perez Jr.’s mental state.

Back at the station, Perez Jr. asked for his medication and requested to be taken to a hospital. The officers refused, saying, “We’re not going to go to the hospital, because that’s not going to help you.” From there, the pressure intensified.

  • Accusations of Murder: Detectives insisted Perez Jr. had killed his father but couldn’t remember doing it. They repeatedly asked him, “Where can you take us to show where Daddy is?”
  • Emotional Manipulation: They brought his dog into the room. The dog curled up at Perez Jr.’s feet. The detectives used this moment to say, “She knows because she was walking through all the blood.”
  • Threats Against the Dog: The detectives told Perez Jr. the dog would need to be euthanized because of the trauma of witnessing its owner’s murder.

By this point, Perez Jr. was in clear mental distress—rocking, pulling his hair, crying, shaking, and pleading for help. When he fell to the floor and hugged his dog, the officers laughed and told him he was stressing the animal out.

False Evidence, False Confession

Sixteen hours into the interrogation, the detectives told Perez Jr. they had found his father’s body in the morgue with stab wounds. It was a lie. But Perez Jr., mentally broken and physically exhausted, confessed.

The detectives then received a call from Perez Jr.’s sister: Thomas Sr. was alive and at LAX, about to board a flight to visit her.

They didn’t rush back to tell Perez Jr. the good news. Instead, they let him sit alone in the interrogation room for another hour. During this time, Perez Jr., hopeless and defeated, untied his shoes and attempted to hang himself.

The officers intervened—not to reassure him but to Mirandize him for the first time. They then sent him to a psychiatric hospital, leaving instructions that he was to have no contact with family members. On their way out, they dropped the dog at the pound as a stray.

The Truth Comes Out

Three days later, a nurse at the psychiatric hospital broke the detectives’ order and told Perez Jr. that his father was alive. He was released shortly afterward and located his dog, only because it had been microchipped.

In May 2023, a federal judge ruled the interrogation tactics were unconstitutional, stating:

“[Perez] was berated, worn down, and pressured into a false confession after 17 hours of questioning. [The officers] did this with full awareness of his compromised mental and physical state and need for his medications.”

The city settled the case for $900,000 while denying any wrongdoing. The detectives involved were promoted.

Lessons Learned: Protect Yourself

1. Police Can and Will Lie

Police are legally allowed to fabricate evidence, create false scenarios, and manipulate emotions during interrogations. They lied to Perez Jr. about his father’s death, used his dog as a weapon of guilt, and invented threats of euthanasia to push him over the edge.

2. Vulnerabilities Are Not Safeguards

Mental health struggles, fear, and confusion only make you more susceptible to manipulation. If it could happen to Perez Jr., it could happen to anyone.

3. False Confessions Happen More Than You Think

Long, relentless interrogations are designed to break people down. Exhaustion, fear, and hopelessness can lead to false confessions—especially when police use tactics like these.

4. One Word Stops It All: Lawyer

The moment you invoke your right to an attorney, questioning must stop. This one word is your best defense against manipulation.

What To Do If You’re Questioned by Police

  • Say “Lawyer” Immediately: Once you ask for an attorney, all questioning must cease. This is your legal right.
  • Don’t Try to Explain: Anything you say can and will be used against you. Even innocent statements can be twisted out of context.
  • Stay Calm and Silent: The less you say, the better. Focus on staying composed and protecting your rights.

Knauss Law Will Protect You

The case of Thomas Perez Jr. is a chilling reminder of why you need experienced legal representation. At Knauss Law, our team of former prosecutors knows the system inside and out. We’re here to protect your rights and ensure you never face a nightmare like this alone.

If the police question you, remember: “Lawyer.” It’s the one word that can save you. Contact Knauss Law today to schedule a consultation.