Police hear this phrase often, and usually, it is said in a condescending manner.

The officer says, “Jim, I need to talk to you about that burglary that happened at Joe Doe’s
house last month.”

Jim replies, “ Aw man, everybody knows John Smith broke in that house.”

Officer, “How do you know that?”

Jim is now exasperated, “ Come on , everybody knows about that!”

John Smith has now become what I refer to as a “Community Suspect” because the
“Community” ( typically people who actually know very little about the case) have decided he is guilty.

The evidence for a community conviction may be the person was in jail five years ago, or he is
“on dope,” or he (or a family member) is “always in trouble”… You may notice the absence of
any objective evidence. You know, the kind of stuff that someone can testify to in court.

Of course, these days, we can rely on the ultimate source of all knowledge, social media. This
evidence is exceptionally valuable in high-profile cases, especially if the information on the
media source corroborates what you think!

Before you get upset with the police because they haven’t arrested somebody or served a
search warrant on someone’s house, please consider this fact. Law enforcement must have
information they can justify as being credible or that they can prove is true to take action.

Every crime is made up of certain parts that are referred to as elements of that crime. In order
to convict a person of the crime, it must be legally proven; in a court of law, the defendant
committed each element.

So please don’t give up on law enforcement because they don’t run out and snatch somebody
up because “everybody knows” they did it. We got to have the evidence!

Jim Leach is the author of “Murder’s a Tough Business, the Pursuit of True Evil.” All of his books
may be found at www.booksbyleach.com.