Legality of Columbo's trick with the cigar box

[DrDeth]

@The_Other_Waldo_Pepper

Well, if we’re dispensing with spoilers: is a cop allowed to gain admissible evidence by pointing a gun at the suspect’s head, and threatening to pull the trigger unless the guy confesses, if there’s no bullet in the gun but the guy believes otherwise and fears for his life?

Absolutely not. And yes it would be a crime. But maybe not if it is a cigar box. “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar”.

@Just_Asking_Questions

If Goren has a formula fault, it was coercing guilty suspects to confess to hide a deeper (to them) sin. (such as a priest who fathered a child with a parishioner, and if the secret came out, it could bring harm to them.*) He did that enough that I thought he should be reined in. Or find better writers.

Oh it was great watching him do that- the first few times. Then it got progressively more ridiculou.

Also- you do not have to “come in for questioning” without a warrant or subpoena. if they invite you “down to the station”- just say “talk to my lawyer”.