In almost every situation, you will be dealing with some type of suspect. Many times, the suspect will not be there by the time you arrive on the scene. In these cases it is absolutely necessary to be able to gather ample and accurate suspect information. This includes names, possible locations, descriptions, clothing, and so on. This section will give you questions to use in order to gather this information, as well as many descriptions so you know what to look for. You may want to refer back to the Interviews/Questioning section for more in-depth questions.
Gathering Basic Information
This list of questions will get you started in your investigation. These questions are aimed towards victims or witnesses that may have suspect information.
¿Sabe quién es el sospechoso? (SAH-beh kee-EHN EHS EHL soh-speh-CHOH-soh) - Do you know who the suspect is?
¿Sabe quién lo hizo? (SAH-beh kee-EHN LOH EE-soh) - Do you know who did it?
¿Sabe quién fue la persona? (SAH-beh kee-EHN FWEH LAH pehr-SOH-nah) - Do you know who the person was?
¿Sabe quién estaba allí? (SAH-beh kee-EHN eh-STAH-bah ah-YEE) - Do you know who was there?
¿Sabe quién vio lo que pasó? (SAH-beh kee-EHN VEE-oh LOH KEH pah-SOH) - Do you know who saw what happened?
¿Vio el vehículo? (VEE-oh EHL veh-EE-koo-loh) - Did you see the vehicle?
¿Cuál fue el número de la placa? (KWAHL FWEH EHL NOO-meh-roh DEH LAH PLAH-kah) - What was the plate number?
¿Vio el chofer? (VEE-oh EHL CHOH-fehr) - Did you see the driver?
Dígame lo que dijo (DEE-gah-meh LOH KEH DEE-hoh) - Tell me what he said
¿Quién es la víctima? (kee-EHN EHS LAH VEEK-tee-mah) - Who is the victim?
Many Descriptions
This is a long list of different descriptors to help you figure out who you are looking for.
¿Fue un niño, adolescente o adulto? (FWEH OON NEE-nyoh, ah-doh-leh-SEHN-teh OH ah-DOOL-toh) - Was it a child, teenager or adult?
¿Hombre o mujer? (OHM-breh OH MOO-hehr) - Man or woman?
¿Puede decirme la edad? (PWEH-deh deh-SEER-meh LAH eh-DAHD) - Can you tell me the age?
¿Puede decirme el color de los ojos? (PWEH-deh deh-SEER-meh EHL koh-LOHR DEH LOHS OH-hohs) - Can you tell me the color of the eyes?
¿Puede decirme el cutis? (PWEH-deh deh-SEER-meh EHL KOO-tees) - Can you tell me the complexion?
¿Vio la deformidad? (VEE-oh LAH deh-fohr-mee-DAHD) - Did you see a deformity?
¿Vio pecas? (VEE-oh PEH-kahs) - Did you see freckles?
¿Puede describa el pelo? (PWEH-deh deh-SKREE-bah EHL PEH-loh) - Can you describe the hair?
¿Puede decirme el color del pelo? (PWEH-deh deh-SEER-meh EHL koh-LOHR DEHL PEH-loh) - Can you tell me the color of the hair?
¿Puede decirme la estatura? (PWEH-deh deh-SEER-meh LAH eh-stah-TOO-rah) - Can you tell me the height?
¿Puede describa los hábitos? (PWEH-deh deh-SKREE-bah LOHS AH-bee-tohs) - Can you describe the mannerisms?
¿Vio lunares? (VEE-oh loo-NAHR-ehs) - Did you see moles?
¿Puede decirme la raza? (PWEH-deh deh-SEER-meh LAH RAH-sah) - Can you tell me the race?
¿Vio una cicatriz? (VEE-oh OO-nah see-kah-TREES) - Did you see a scar?
¿Vio un tatuaje? (VEE-oh OON tah-too-AH-heh) - Did you see a tattoo?
¿Puede describa la forma de caminar? (PWEH-deh deh-SKREE-bah LAH FOHR-mah DEH kah-mee-NAHR) - Can you describe the walk?
¿Puede decirme el peso? (PWEH-deh deh-SEER-meh EHL PEH-soh) - Can you tell me the weight?
More Detailed Descriptions
Era calvo (EH-rah KAHL-voh) - He was bald
Tenía la barba (teh-NEE-ah LAH BAHR-bah) - He had a beard
Era grande (EH-rah GRAHN-deh) - He was big
Era negro (EH-rah NEH-groh) - He was black
Era rubio (EH-rah ROO-bee-oh) - He was blonde
Tenía el corrector dental (teh-NEE-ah EHL koh-rrehk-TOHR dehn-TAHL) - He had braces
Era moreno (EH-rah moh-REH-noh) - He was brunette
Estaba limpio (eh-STAH-bah LEEM-pee-oh) - He was clean
Era loco (EH-rah LOH-koh) - He was crazy
Era bizco (EH-rah BEES-koh) - He was cross-eyed
Era de pelo rizado (EH-rah DEH PEH-loh ree-SAH-doh) - He had curly hair
Era prieto (EH-rah pree-EH-toh) - He was dark-skinned
Era sordo (EH-rah SOHR-doh) - He was deaf
Estaba sucio (eh-STAH-bah SOO-see-oh) - He was dirty
Era incapacitado (EH-rah een-kah-pah-see-TAH-doh) - He was disabled
Estaba borracho (eh-STAH-bah boh-RRAH-choh) - He was drunk
Era rápido (EH-rah RAH-pee-doh) - He was fast
Era gordo (EH-rah GOHR-doh) - He was fat
Era amistoso (EH-rah ah-mee-STOH-soh) - He was friendly
Tenía anteojos (teh-NEE-ah ahn-teh-OH-hohs) - He had glasses
Tenía la perita (teh-NEE-ah LAH peh-REE-tah) - He had a goatee
Estaba canoso (eh-STAH-bah kah-NOH-soh) - He was gray-haired
Era guapo (EH-rah GWAH-poh) - He was handsome
Estaba herido (eh-STAH-bah eh-REE-doh) - He was injured
Era latino (EH-rah lah-TEE-noh) - He was latino
Era zurdo (EH-rah SOOR-doh) - He was left-handed
Era de piel clara (EH-rah DEH pee-EHL KLAH-rah) - He was light-skinned
Tenía el pelo largo (teh-NEE-ah EHL PEH-loh LAHR-goh) - He had long hair
Estaba ruidoso (eh-STAH-bah roo-ee-DOH-soh) - He was loud
Era de tamaño mediano (EH-rah DEH tah-MAH-nyoh meh-dee-AH-noh) - He was medium-built
Era de edad mediana (Eh-rah DEH eh-DAHD meh-dee-AH-nah) - He was middle-aged
Tenía el bigote (teh-NEE-ah EHL bee-GOH-teh) - He had a moustache
Era mudo (EH-rah MOO-doh) - He was mute
Era viejo (EH-rah vee-EH-hoh) - He was old
Era oriental (EH-rah oh-ree-ehn-TAHL) - He was oriental
Era pálido (EH-rah PAH-lee-doh) - He was pale
Tenía los granos (teh-NEE-ah LOHS GRAH-nohs) - He had pimples
Tenía la coleta (teh-NEE-ah LAH koh-LEH-tah) - He had a ponytail
Era pobre (EH-rah POH-breh) - He was poor
Era quieto (EH-rah kee-EH-toh) - He was quiet
Era pelirojo (EH-rah peh-lee-ROH-hoh) - He was red-headed
Era rico (EH-rah REE-koh) - He was rich
Era diestro (EH-rah dee-EH-stroh) - He was right-handed
Era rudo (EH-rah ROO-doh) - He was rude
Era bajo (EH-rah BAH-hoh) - He was short
Tenía el pelo corto (teh-NEE-ah EHL PEH-loh KOHR-toh) - He had short hair
Era enfermizo (EH-rah ehn-fehr-MEE-soh) - He was sickly
Tenía las patillas (teh-NEE-ah LAHS pah-TEE-yahs) - He had sideburns
Era delgado (EH-rah dehl-GAH-doh) - He was slender
Era lento (EH-rah LEHN-toh) - He was slow
Era pequeño (EH-rah peh-KEH-nyoh) - He was small
Era de pelo lacio (EH-rah DEH PEH-loh LAH-see-oh) - He was straight-haired
Era extraño (EH-rah ehks-TRAH-nyoh) - He was strange
Era alto (EH-rah AHL-toh) - He was tall
Era feo (EH-rah FEH-oh) - He was ugly
Era débil (EH-rah DEH-beel) - He was weak
Era blanco (EH-rah BLAHN-koh) - He was white
Era joven (EH-rah HOH-vehn) - He was young
Behavior
This is a list of different types of behavior. This information may give you a few more clues as to your type of suspect.
enojado (eh-noh-HAH-doh) - angry
ansioso (ahn-see-OH-soh) - anxious
amargado (ah-mahr-GAH-doh) - bitter
aburrido (ah-boo-RREE-doh) - bored
ocupado (oh-koo-PAH-doh) - busy
calmado (kahl-MAH-doh) - calm
confundido (kohn-foon-DEE-doh) - confused
frustado (froo-STAH-doh) - frustrated
furioso (foo-ree-OH-soh) - furious
feliz (feh-LEES) - happy
indeciso (een-deh-SEE-soh) - indecisive
nervioso (nehr-vee-OH-soh) - nervous
triste (TREES-teh) - sad
espantado (eh-spahn-TAH-doh) - scared
suicida (soo-ee-SEE-dah) - suicidal
sorprendido (sohr-prehn-DEE-doh) - surprised
amenazado (ah-meh-nah-SAH-doh) - threatened
cansado (kahn-SAH-doh) - tired
inseguro (een-seh-GOO-roh) - unsure
preocupado (preh-oh-koo-PAH-doh) - worried
More Races and Nationalities
Here is a list of different races and nationalities. This is possibly the most important information to know when looking for a suspect.
africano-americano (ah-free-KAH-noh ah-mehr-ree-KAH-noh) - African-American
árabe (AH-rah-beh) - Arab
asiático (ah-see-AH-tee-koh) - Asian
negro (NEH-groh) - Black
canadiense (kah-nah-dee-EHN-seh) - Canadian
chino (CHEE-noh) - Chinese
cubano (koo-BAH-noh) - Cuban
francés (frahn-SEHS) - French
alemán (ah-leh-MAHN) - German
hispano (ee-SPAH-noh) - Hispanic
indio (EEN-deeoh) - Indian
italiano (ee-tah-leeAH-noh) - Italian
japonés (hah-poh-NEHS) - Japanese
latino (lah-TEE-noh) - Latin
mejicano (meh-hee-KAH-noh) - Mexican
puertorriqueño (pwehr-to-rree-KEH-nyoh) Puerto Rican
español (eh-spah-NYOHL) - Spanish
blanco (BLAHN-koh) - white
Clothing Descriptions
Gathering a description of the suspect's clothing is very important. There could be something out of the ordinary that would lead to a quicker apprehension.
¿Estaba descalzo? (eh-STAH-bah dehs-KAHL-soh) - Was he barefoot?
¿Estaba mal vestido? (eh-STAH-bah MAHL veh-STEE-doh) - Was he dressed strange?
¿Estaba bien vestido? (eh-STAH-bah bee-EHN veh-STEE-doh) - Was he dressed nice?
¿Estaba desaliñado? (eh-STAH-bah deh-sah-lee-NYAH-doh) - Was he sloppily dressed?
traje de baño (TRAH-heh DEH BAH-nyoh) - bathing suit
cinturón (seen-too-ROHN) - belt
boina (boo-EE-nah) - beret
bikini (bee-KEE-nee) - bikini
blusa (BLOO-sah) - blouse
botas (BOH-tahs) - boots
sujetador (soo-heh-tah-DOHR) - bra
tirantes (tee-RAHN-tehs) - braces
botón (boh-TOHN) - button
gorra (GOH-rrah) - cap
rebeca (reh-BEH-kah) - cardigan
abrigo (ah-BREE-goh) - coat
vestido (veh-STEE-doh) - dress
gemelos (heh-MEH-lohs) - cufflinks
guantes (GWAHN-tehs) - gloves
sombrero (sohm-BREH-roh) - hat
tacones altos (tah-KOH-nehs AHL-tohs) - high heels
chaqueta (chah-KEH-tah) - jacket
vaqueros (vah-KEH-rohs) - jeans
jersey (HEHR-seh-ee) - jersey
mini-falda (MEE-nee FAHL-dah) - mini-skirt
monos (MOH-nohs) - overalls
pijama (pee-HAH-mah) - pajamas
bragas (BRAH-gahs) - panties
impermeable (eem-pehr-meh-AH-bleh) - raincoat
sandalias (sahn-DAH-lee-ahs) - sandals
bufanda (boo-FAHN-dah) - scarf
camisa (kah-MEE-sah) - shirt
zapatos (sah-PAH-tohs) - shoes
calzoncillos (kahl-sohn-SEE-yohs) - shorts
falda (FAHL-dah) - skirt
zapatillas (sah-pah-TEE-yahs) - slippers
calcetines (kahl-seh-TEE-nehs) - socks
medias (MEH-deh-ahs) - stockings
traje (TRAH-heh) - suit
ligueros (lee-GWEH-rohs) - suspenders
suéter (SWEH-tehr) - sweater
sudadera (soo-dah-DEH-rah) - sweatshirt
camiseta (kah-mee-SEH-tah) - T-shirt
tenis (TEH-nees) - tennis shoes
corbata (kohr-BAH-tah) - tie
pantalones (pahn-tah-LOH-nehs) - trousers/pants
uniforme (oo-nee-FOHR-meh) - uniform
calzoncillos (kahl-sohn-SEE-yohs) - underpants
chaleco (chah-LEH-koh) - vest
