C
Classy@Home
hhttp://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2011/01/08/16813671.htmlttp://http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2011/01/08/16813671.html
Over a skunk???
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck - skunk in backyard and not enough snow on roof. That's all a judge needs to sign a warrant?
The law is an ass...
Can you imagine if this had been one of those US style, SWAT type raids, smash and enter, shoot the dogs and anything else that moves???A rural Gatineau, Que., family is angry at police who raided their home armed with loaded guns looking for a marijuana grow-op, which turned out to only be a skunk that lived on their property. Auto mechanic Oliver MacQuat was home alone just before 8 p.m. Thursday when he saw flashing lights outside.
He thought a small water-bottling plant next door was being robbed, but then he heard a knock at his door.
The father of two was met by Gatineau officers who declared they had a warrant to search his home and arrest him.
"I thought I was going to have a heart attack," said MacQuat, who was handcuffed and seated on a stool while officers searched his home.
"That scared the living daylights out of me. They were very respectful, but it's very humiliating to be wearing handcuffs and to have people going through your house."
He was told the skunk smell — which is noticeable when driving by — was also similar to that of a grow-op.
MacQuat insisted the skunk thought it was spring after the unusually mild winter weather but police were adamant it wasn't a skunk.
Also in the midst of the half-hour raid, MacQuat said his son Emilio arrived home to 20 cruisers from Gatineau police and Surete du Quebec on and around the property.
Emilio, 18, was held at the edge of the property and not aloud inside until the raid was complete, according to his father.
Minutes later, the scene's senior officer walked inside to inform fellow officers the smell was, after all, just a skunk as MacQuat had pleaded.
"They were really embarrassed by it, but they were very sincere in their apologies," said Macquat, who owns his own auto body shop.
"But had they done their investigation more thoroughly, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Police later told his wife Paula there wasn't enough snow on the steep roof of the 150-year-old home, so officers thought that was also a sign of a grow-op.
The force would not comment on the incident when reached Saturday.
But the family said officers were not rough and even cleaned their shoes before they entered.
MacQuat said he may have to get legal counsel to clear his name, but a lawsuit is the "last thing on his mind."
He also wants police to improve its procedures so mistakes like this don't happen again.
Over a skunk???
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck - skunk in backyard and not enough snow on roof. That's all a judge needs to sign a warrant?
The law is an ass...