No one ever plans on getting arrested. Suddenly finding yourself in this situation could lead to frustration and perhaps some poor decisions on your part, never mind what you actually did to get arrested in the first place. While it can be difficult to keep your cool in this situation, it is critical that you keep a level head to avoid damaging your chances of success once you get into a courtroom. With that in mind, here are three things you should never do while a police officer is attempting to place you under arrest.

Do Not Run or Resist

Getting arrested can be scary and your first natural instinct may be to flee. This is a normal feeling to have; it's just something that comes out of self-preservation. But if you attempt to avoid arrest, there will likely be additional charges placed against you which could result in an even bigger fine or more jail time. Things can get even worse if you directly struggle with the police officer, as that opens up even more severe charges. There's also the fact that running away from the scene may make you look guilty in the eyes of a judge or jury.

Don't Give Your Side of the Story

When a police officer is interviewing a suspect at the scene of an arrest, they may ask a series of questions in order to try and get a complete report on what happened. But once you know that an arrest is likely, you are under no obligation to say anything. You don't have to wait to hear the words "you have the right to remain silent" to shut your trap. Even if you believe you are innocent, something you say could end up being put into the court record in a way that works against you.

Do Not Give Permission to Search

Once you are threatened with arrest, a police officer may ask to search your vehicle or home. If you are innocent, you're first reaction might be to grant permission to search because you think it will prove that you did nothing wrong. But you should never, ever give a police officer permission to search your property unless they have a warrant to do so. If the police officer conducts a search anyway, state out loud that they do not have permission, especially if there is a witness. You may be ignored, but any evidence they find could be thrown out in court if found during an illegal search.

If you suddenly find yourself under arrest, it's important to stay calm, stay quiet, and comply with police orders. Just keep in mind of your own legal rights in this situation as well. If you have been wrongfully accused of a crime or if the law enforcement official did something illegal during your arrest, there are likely multiple criminal defense attorneys in your area who would be happy to help.