I gets arrested!
What I looked like last night, I forgot I was wearing my myfoodcount.com t-shirt, maybe that was the dead giveaway!
Just about every night, I go out for a one to three hour walk, I tend to prefer walking around industrial parks and factories - sticking to the sidewalk when there is one. I have an affinity for the industrial sector and I feel more at home on a shop floor then a shopping mall. Nobody goes for walks around there so I am guaranteed to be alone, it is also the time when new ideas pop into my head. I would also love to own my own manufacturing plant one day.
Be careful what you think… it may happen!
Last night was like every other night except for one thing, apparently somebody saw me breaking & entering into a building and promptly called the police who sent two squad cars to get me.
It’s funny because just a few minutes before, I walked right in front of the police station wondering what it’s like to be arrested.
Nice Police… but quick to judge
I cannot say anything bad about the police, they pulled over and said they wanted to talk to me. First question they asked me was my name, I told them why they wanted my name. They said somebody matching my description broke into a place, “interacted” with somebody and was scoping out other buildings. I was wearing a white t-shirt and a white/red flannel jacket… more importantly, I was the ONLY GUY walking around outside a few blocks around.
They again asked my name, I told them I am walking down the street and politely declined to give them any of my personal information beyond my first name - I told them my last name was irrelevant as I felt I had done nothing wrong. If their case against me was solely based off my personal information, they they are fishing in the wrong pond. That is when they called for backup and told me to stop walking. About a minute later, another police car pulled over and before I knew it, I had 4 police officers around me (one in front, behind, to the left, right). Apparently, traffic stopped at the local intersection to see what was happening too.
My guess was they where trying to intimidate me… again, they asked my last name and I told them I have spent the last 2 hours walking around the block and I didn’t see what my last name had to do with “somebody lodging a complaint”. A few minutes later, they told me I was being put under arrest for breaking & entering and resisting arrest. On go the handcuffs and into the back of the police car I go.
Game over
They continued to ask me what I was doing walking around the industrial part of town at night, I told them I wanted peace and quiet. They then told me this can go one of two ways, I give them my last name or we go right to the police station for booking - apparently not giving your full name to a police officer who has suspicions about you is an automatic “go to jail” card. So, knowing I have no records for anything, I told them my last name and answered other personal questions they had. I have a busy day tomorrow and telling my clients I was in jail for the night for refusing to give my last name didn’t make much sense.
I think the whole ordeal lasted about 20 minutes, 15 of which was not telling them my personal information (still none of their business in my opinion) but answering all their other questions.
Freedom Gained
After I told them who I was, address and other personal info, they let me out of the handcuffs and the back of the police car. They told me they had lots of break-ins and that I looked suspicious. The officer then told me that I shouldn’t be walking around on side streets at night, only sticking to main roads for my own safety. I didn’t bother telling him I had a black belt in karate and am very aware of my surroundings.
They told me there will now be a record of my arrest tonight, I don’t believe that is true as I was never formally charged with anything nor booked.
Very tricky tactics
If I was in Iraq, I probably would have giving them my life story without being asked but this is Canada… I got rights. I realized soon into the conversation they where trying to get me for something. Their whole line of questioning was geared around “somebody”, the officer questioned all my assertions, played “good cop, bad cop” etc.. I make a living negotiating with businesses day in and day out… I saw all their tactics a mile away. But I never played along, police officers have no sense of humor when they are on the job.
It was interesting how they would slowly stretch the truth to my answers, I always promptly interrupted and corrected them - time and again.. If you are on drugs, drunk or not “all there”, I can now see how easy it is to be arrested. For example, I kept telling them that of course I am the guy they are looking for, I am the only guy around… apparently they saw people all over the place on the streets I had just walked. I know better then to crack a joke to a police officer but in my head I was thinking “so, your the grown up kid in The Six Sense”. I know if I would have told that to them I would be in jail right now acquiring a new boyfriend.
Another example of laying foundations to get me to crack was their entire approach. They wouldn’t ask one question and move on, they would ask the same question in a different way, over and over… to see if I gave different answers. Fifteen minutes of questioning by 2 main police officers with two others staring at me actually wears you down, if you only deviate slightly from your story, they got you. Four minds against one that is new to this whole thing isn’t fair. They where essentially trying to put words in my mouth and confirming I said such things.
Trust is earned, not given - without exception
I live by this motto, I don’t care if you are a police officer or a homeless person asking for a dime on the street, I NEVER give my trust unless somebody has “proven” to me that they are worthy of earning it.
Maybe I was tough on the police officers who where simply asking innocent questions but there are a lot of people in this world who shouldn’t be dead or in jail because they simply gave their trust away. Life isn’t fair, especially when dealing with people who are in positions of authority over you - don’t give simply because of a title.
What do I think of being arrested?
I guess there is a first time for everything, not that big a deal actually, I don’t think it is right to be arrested for simply walking down a sidewalk in an industrial area of town, nor do I believe they had probable cause which is why they eventually had to let me go. I believe even now that they where abusing their power and I was in the right - I gave in to simply avoid a night in jail.
Again, if your entire case is based off “somebody” “saying” you broke into a place and your the only guy around and the final decision to arrest a person or not is based off their last name, there is something wrong with your case.
I told the police officers that if I was going to break into a place at night, I would wear all black, have something hard to allow me to “break into” a place and sure as hell wouldn’t be on foot 
Did he expect me to steal something after a break-in and carry it on my back for a few kilometers to my home? I don’t mind being questioned but I don’t appreciate being taken for a fool.
The Bottom Line
It’s not every night I get arrested for walking on the sidewalk, I will try to not turn it into a habit
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