January 12th 2022 9:59 a.m. We had planned our day and I was cooking omelets for breakfast. Eileen walked into the kitchen and looked at me with sad eyes and said “Trev I need a hug”; we hugged for several seconds.
10:00 I turned toward the stove, and a moment later noticed several persons walking toward our front door.
10:01 Eileen said “I’ll get the door”, a moment later I could hear loud voices and a stern conversation.
I approached the door to observe a number of people: 4 RCMP officers and two other individuals. They were looking very aggressive, and more or less forcing their way into our peaceful home.
Immediately Eileen was roughly escorted away into our living room. She was looking confused and scared because this action was a complete shock and surprise.
At the same time Maeris Boudreau, the only person of the six people I recognized, said in a gruff voice “its Wednesday isn’t it?". I replied that we didn’t have an appointment. (since before Christmas).
10:02 I was being grabbed and forced by two aggressive police officers as they put my arms behind my back. I was in complete shock and immediately said “what is going on? and also, I need to turn off the heat on two frying pans, on high". I was told if I struggled at all, I would be charged with resisting arrest. At the same time, I was being handcuffed behind my back with the cuffs jammed over an expanding band metal watch.
10:03 Several times I asked what was going on and recall one of the six individuals saying Eileen was being taken the Nanaimo Hospital and that I was being detained under the mental health act.
At this point I still had no idea what or why this was happening and I was being treated like a dangerous criminal. The shock and surprise was so intense and was still emotiona days after it happened. And I am told it a normal PTSD response.
10:04 I was taken outside in the rain and told I would be transported to Comox for an examination by two doctors. I tried to explain that I didn’t have shoes on, nor had my wallet with ID Cards, and cash or keys for the house. They did bring some runners but didn’t allow me to get anything else.
About 10:06 I was in the back of a squad car with my hands tightly clamped behind me. It was very painful.
10:08 I glanced through the rain streaked windows to see Eileen, my wife and best friend for almost 60 years being led away from our home. THEY DIDN’T EVEN LET US SAY GOODBYE. We haven’t been apart for about sixteen years and it tears me apart for us to be treated this way.
11:30 Still in handcuffs I am escorted into Comox General Hospital, and stated I desperately needed to use the washroom. I was led to a room where the cuffs were removed.
Between 11:30 and about 3:00 pm I waited patiently in a room, and asked several times to people who came in what was this about? Two doctors asked me some basic questions and appeared to be as mystified as I was. One of the pressing questions was how did I make omelets and what did I do as an indentured apprentice in England at 15 years old. Chatting with different staff in the ER I asked how I would get home in the pouring rain. Without proper clothing no money, cards or ID and no keys for the house. I said if I leave now, I may be able to hitch a ride before it was too dark.
I was advised that perhaps a social worker could be called to arrange something. During conversations it turned out the one of the ward staff remembered meeting Eileen and I some time ago, and even remembered our life story book 26,000 days.
Finally a staff came up waving a piece of paper (taxi voucher).
3:45 Almost dark and still raining and a $176 taxi I arrived to my totally locked home with no keys or phone. Climbing over a planter and removing the window I was able to crawl into my home, and Eileen wasn’t there to share a hug.
This is by far the traumatic event of Eileen’s and my life, and we have had a very interesting and eventful life together. Honest and upstanding citizens who have helped so many people do not deserve to be treated in this way. (We had 17 foster children and were a designated facility for troubled teens.)
I intend to do my best to ensure that this heavy handed, heartless approach does not happen to other people in our tenuous situation.
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