You’ve been arrested after a search of your house. The police start asking you questions. Should you cooperate and answer the questions? Minneapolis criminal defense attorney, Ryan Garry, tells you what to do. He firmly advises against speaking with law enforcement, stressing that it is one of the most damaging mistakes a person can make when under investigation or arrest. Instead, he recommends immediately requesting the opportunity to contact an attorney. If that request is denied, the individual should remain silent. He illustrates the point with an anecdote: a lawyer once kept a mounted fish above his desk with the caption, “If only I’d kept my mouth shut, I’d still be alive.” The lesson, he explains, is clear—many cases begin with only circumstantial evidence, but once a client voluntarily provides statements, law enforcement gains what they need to bring charges. For this reason, he underscores the critical importance of never speaking to the police without counsel.