Totally Spooked & feel INVADED by the cops

[coco_artist]

I go to Toronto for the day and I just got back and the security lady tells me there were a couple of cops here today looking for me and they made her let them into my apartment to make sure I was alright, because I didn't answer my door and she told them I have Cancer.
I had a small jar with about four roaches in it on my bookcase. Should I be worried?
What the heck could the police want with me. I live a quiet life.

[Lucy]

Keeping you in my thoughts.....hopefully it is something good that bring them to your door! One can hope.

[coco_artist]

Lucy, what bothers me is that I feel violated.

They can come into my home without me here without my permission. That bothers me.

[skeeter]

coco_artist

I know what your going through man.. I've had to shut down growing myself, just browse through TY's Coffee Shoppe, about me.. The Fu!!ing cops can do anything they want man.. I'm keeping the faith, and will be growing produce, instead of meds..

Hang in there man!! I feel the pain as well

skeets

[Clear Head C]

personally coco, I would phone the cops myself and see what it is they wanted, seems to me your secrity lady may have just wanted them to check your place, it's outrageous

[groo]

Coco, I think it's best you contact the police as suggested and ask why they wanted to see you.

If your landlady decided to set up a "visit" while you were out, she could be in some legal hot water. Once you rent a place, it is yours and the landlord is required to provide at least 24 hours notice (Ontario) with an explanation as to why they want to inspect or visit the premises.

Nor can they just call the cops and let them in to your home without a warrant. Doing so is an invasion of privacy, and cannot be justified by "She didn't answer the door."

However, if the cops were there for other reasons and you didn't answer the door, they are allowed to enter to check on your safety, but that's all. They wouldn't have looked for any "evidence" of anything, just checked to make sure you weren't lying comatose (or worse.)

Personally I found both OPP and RCMP to be quite helpful if you ask them if there are any issues you should be concerned about. Be careful how you phrase things, though, or they might wonder about your mental stability and could recommend a 24-hour pyschiatric observation if they think you are unable or unwilling to care for yourself.

There is a similar loophole law in the US, but it can actually be used to force someone into indefinite psychiatric care. That rarely happens, but if you don't have family and friends to vouch for you and sign you out of a facility (e.g. orphan/homeless), they could effectively "lock you up" for an indeterminate time.

First and foremost -- don't panic. Give them a call and ask why they were by. If they say no one was by, give the name of your landlord/landlady, their phone number, and tell the cops that she claims the police were there. Ask them to follow up, as you're concerned about who might have been impersonating the police.

[swampy]

I agree, Coco call them up and see what they want, I wouldn't worry about a few roachs, even if they seen them you have cancer and live in Canada so I can't imagine they would waste time on that.

[Quixotic]

coco,

Is it possible someone that knows you got worried when you didn't answer your phone or from lack of contact? Police get called on to do "wellness checks" often for people with known health issues and for when people seem to be "missing" for a period. My family had to do this once, the results were not good but at least we found out what was up.

If they did a wellness check you should be able to find out by a simple inquiry of the local authorities.

Q

[LadyTokin]

My advice....how would you handle this if you were not using cannabis to medicate?? You would probably have already called the police..right? Call them and just ask as to why they were looking for you.

I hope all of this clears up quickly and easily for you hon.

[Elysium]

I agree with Quixotic. We always hear of people who are discovered after months (sometimes years) of no contact, dead in their own home. If this was just a wellness check, it's at least good to know that people care enough about you to check on your health.

If not....it stinks.

[Buffalo Bill]

Coco, sorry to read about the invasion of your privacy! Do as Groo suggests and all will be cleared up. Do not worry about the roaches. Next time, be sure and hide the roaches! It isn't like you keep mass quantities around. So take a little toke or two and relaxxxxx! Take care and be well, sister.....

[nancerella]

I agree totally with the majority..call them and ask what they wanted..I sure as hell would not want anyone in my home if I wasn't there.

[saeon]

That's totally insane, coco! My suspicion is, however, that they were there for relatively harmless purposes, and saw nothing of consequence while they were there. So try not to worry, while you find out what's up!

[Stray]

Phone & ask wtf they wanted.

Talk to the LL & bawl her ass right out...
She has absolutely no business letting people into your apartment
without a warrant & without 24 hour notice of entry...
Well being check my arse...

Make arrangements with someone that you can trust & you phone
them once a day to check in with them - just to have a safety net.

Stray...