If you think this doesn’t apply to your case, you are wrong. During my 30 years of experience as a criminal defense lawyer, I have seen many cases damaged beyond repair by statements made in good faith and out of good intentions. Police officers will commonly question a person simply to obtain enough evidence against the person to build a case.
Talking to police officers before consulting a lawyer is nearly always a poor decision, even if you are totally innocent. A statement that a private individual may have intended as an innocent explanation will often be viewed by authorities as a confession.
The Police often will lead a suspect to believe that cooperation will be rewarded by leniency when in reality, the police will deny making any such promises… and the judge will usually believe them. Rarely will a police officer stand up for a defendant. In the end, it is the prosecutor and the judge that determine punishment, not the police.
Remember, before making any decision, it is vitally important to get the advice of a criminal defense attorney.