I am not a lawyer nor a police officer, but as I have been told: Your miranda rights do not need to be read UNLESS they intend to question you. They do not need to read them to arrest you. As far as other options go, I would seek legal counsel.
You should not put a stop payment on the installers check unless there is a problem with the installation, but I would file a police report for the stolen goods.
I am not familiar with the scam, and would like to know more about it. But to answer your question about the stop payment - once it has been cashed, a stop payment cannot be put on it. However since they put it into their personal account you may be able to find the person in order to sue them...
The main questions I would have would be: is this an apartment complex or a house, if a complex did they have a specific pet policy and did your roommate abide by it (i.e. a pet deposit and "pet lease") If house - well basically same questions. The NSF check and the late payments are no reason...
Many times if you contact a credit card company for an old debt, they will settle for much less than you owe. Sometimes as little as 25% of the total debt. Contacting them would be your best option.
Oh one more thing, If she stays and you go, make sure your off the lease - whatever the cost (if any). Even though you will lose all rights to the security deposit, you do not want to be liable if she skips out on rent and destroys the place.
I was a former leasing manager for a very large apartment complex in louisiana, and I have seen this happen way to often. The laws for your state may be different as Louisiana follows a code from the days of napoleon. But the way that we would handle it most of the time is if one party wanted...
It was an alabama plate.
I have also since been able to speak with my attorney, who will file a motion of supression due to the details of the search and also about the stop in the first place. I have also since that time had the stripped screw holes in my bumper rethreaded and have welded...
I will try to be brief and yet detailed. I was driving with my brother in law on the interstate in southern alabama when i was pulled over by an officer in greenville. I was told that i was pulled over due to the fact (1) that my license plate was in my rear window instead of on the bumper...