The Role of a Criminal Defense Investigator
Crescent Investigative Services is a full-service investigation firm providing professional services to Rochester, the Twin Cities, and all of Minnesota. As criminal defense investigators, we uncover and collect evidence on behalf of a defense attorney who in turn builds a comprehensive defensive stance rooted in facts.
Unbiased investigations, confidentiality, and communication are the primary contributors to our success. With thousands of cases in our portfolio, decades of combined experience, and a wide breadth of industry knowledge amongst our team — you’ll find us at the top when it comes to qualified Minnesota investigation teams.
Build Your Case with Facts
The foundation of any defense must be built, which takes time and careful consideration for all of the details. A good attorney understands there’s often more to uncover than what is offered in initial case findings and law enforcement reports. Investigators are brought onto a case to uncover reasonable doubt on behalf of the accused.
Time is of the essence when building your foundation. This is why many attorneys partner with a reliable and trusted investigator. You have to trust the investigator will do their due diligence in a manner that best represents your law firm and client. Memories fade, scenes change, and evidence deteriorates — it’s these reasons attorneys and investigators must be responsive and proactive in the investigative process.
Partnering with a private investigator allows you to dig to a deeper level. Uncovering various perspectives, the right people, and knowing which avenues to pursue takes a unique skill set.
Unbiased Investigations
An investigation often starts by interviewing the defendant and locating witnesses. Crescent’s investigators put special attention towards creating trusting relationships with each attorney, defendant, witness, and any other party we speak to.
We want those we speak with to understand we take our oath of ethics seriously and that everything they share is valued, appreciated, and handled in a confidential manner. Through compassionate and professional communication — our team remains unbiased and interviewees feel comfortable and confident to share details. We press for information in a firm yet compassionate manner, rather than utilizing interrogation tactics that can lead to people feeling uneasy or worse yet, false statements or confessions.
While much of our investigative work involves tracking down key connections to the case, re-visiting the crime scene is often just as telling. Our defense investigators utilize photography, videography, and other crime scene analysis tools. With drone capabilities and certified crash reconstructions on our team, the most intricate details can be reproduced when needed.
As the investigation evolves, timelines are established and a detailed and truthful story unfolds. We take the time to go the extra mile to verify facts by thoroughly reviewing the background of pertinent contacts. Understanding their criminal history, learning about their true character, and uncovering trends help investigators decipher facts from fiction.
Results-Oriented Criminal Defense Investigations
When the investigation is complete, Crescent turns over the facts and evidence to the defense attorney. This often includes data logs, professional narratives, legal records, testimonials, and documented interviews.
We are here to help the best defense attorneys in Minnesota enter the courtroom with confidence. Confidence comes with preparation. Adding a qualified investigator to any case takes your preparation steps to a deeper and more thorough level, which often makes all the difference when it comes to courtroom decisions.
Qualifications
Crescent Investigations is a member of the Minnesota Association of Private Investigators and Protective Agents. We’re licensed, bonded, and insured to provide investigative services to attorneys, municipalities, government agencies, businesses, and individuals.
We partner with top attorneys through our criminal defense investigations. In need of other services? We offer a wide range of investigative services beyond litigation support. Expert witness locate services, personal injury, pre-employment background checks, surveillance, mobile notary services, skip tracing, and consultation services are amongst our full list of offerings.
If you’re an attorney in the state of Minnesota — we want to partner with you on your next case. Let us help you uncover the facts necessary to build a strong case.
About Crescent Investigative Services
Crescent Investigations is a full-service private investigations firm located in Southeast Minnesota. We serve attorneys, businesses, municipalities, and individuals in our own Rochester, MN community and throughout our home state of Minnesota.
Our team is made of seasoned investigators, many with a background in law enforcement. Dean Mikel, the company's founder, started Crescent in 1992 after serving as a Special Agent with the U.S. State Department. Bill Sires joined Mikel in the late 1990s as an investigator alongside his law-enforcement career. Upon Mikel’s retirement, the ownership transition to Sires in 2021 was seamless thanks to their long-standing partnership.
As the company grows, new investigators with unique skills have joined the team to broaden the scope of services Crescent offers. Crescent is known as a local leader when it comes to litigation support and background investigations. As the company grows, crash-reconstruction and HR & Employee Conduct Investigation Services are just 2 notable services now offered, filling a noticed gap in the market.
For more information or set-up a no-obligation consultation call or email: 507-533-6426 or contact@crescentinvestigations.com