Cooperation with police led to arrest

I was arrested after talking to police over the phone re possession of family handguns. I relinquished them; they were not in my possession when they made threats to me on the phone about not releasing my 16 year old son until I did so, then they later denied it, stating they said things to me and I made admissions I never did, and that they never threatened me. My son was never even arrested, just in custody, and for a petty crime not even in their jurisdiction, as a result of a "tip" they got about guns as well. He denies telling them they were in my custody. Aren't these calls recorded? Can only their statements be used against me? Were my rights violated? Thanks!

Sorry to say, but many folks end up in your shoes. If you agreed to speak with the police, and waived your usual Miranda rights, then there is probably not much to be done, unfortunately. The absolutely imperative thing is if you encounter the police in the future, follow these steps -- American Civil Liberties Union : Know Your Rights: What to Do If You're Stopped by the Police. As for your current predicament, if you are charged with a crime hire a criminal defense attorney (you can get a referral by going to the WLD main page) or request the appointment of counsel if unable to afford a private lawyer. Hope all works out for you. AJJ