Archie finds himself in trouble with the law after reporting a mugging.
Tropes
- Hollywood Law: One of the most notorious examples in television history. The man who mugged Archie gets off scot free despite confessing because his rights were read to him in English (which he didn't speak or understand), which in reality would void the confession but not the arrest. Archie was still a witness and the so there's no reason the case against the man would be dismissed.
- When Archie is in court on the charge of possession of an illegal weapon (a tear gas squirter), he inadvertently admits he used the weapon against his would be assailant after which the judge informed him he'd instead be charged with assault instead of possession, only to throw the charge out due to the cop who found the weapon not having a warrant. The judge clearly needs a law school refresher since #1: One charge doesn't automatically replace the other, defendants are often faced with multiple charges from a single incident as long as it isn't considered a "lesser included offense" so Archie would still be charged with weapon possession. #2: The alleged assault was an indisputable case of self defense, seeing as the mugger confessed to pulling a knife on Archie, and the miranda rights issue wouldn't apply in a case where he isn't the defendant so at most the police would investigate the assault but no competent cop, prosecutor or judge would allow charges to be filed. And #3: Even if the tear gas squirter was inadmissible, Archie conffessed to the cop that he had it. Miranda rights don't apply since Archie admitted this spontaneously rather than when being questioned.
- What makes all this even more ridiculous is that a tear gas squirter isn't even illegal in the United States!
- Karma Houdini: The mugger gets off scot-free, thanks to the arresting officer not reading him rights in a language he understands.
- Miscarriage of Justice: Archie nearly gets charged with a felony before the episode is over. His bacon is saved thanks to the officer not following proper procedure.
