Before I go into any detail regarding the story of the last two years, I figured i’d provide a brief recap of the events.

I was detained on April 7th, 2015 and released on April 13th. Despite not having a diagnosed disorder or previous hospitalization for treatment, no treatment while I was detained, and released without a diagnosis of disorder, the fact of the detainment remains on my permanent record. An attempt has been made to have it addressed through the Court of Appeal, but it’s been almost a full year since the matter was heard and there is still no ruling handed down.

I halted my recounting of this story back in May of 2015 at the request of certain family members. Recent revelations have shown they were already in conflict and didn’t want to have their involvement made public. They’ve been hounding me to pretend the whole situation hasn’t happened and that I should go on with my life and remain silent about it all.

As I mentioned, the detainment has remained on my permanent record despite there being no diagnosis or treatment. This would become a major issue that still hangs above my head today. The stigma associated with being involuntarily detained is massive, but to be involuntarily detained without even a reason provided just makes anyone who comes across that information excessively suspicious and paranoid. It’s caused repeated problems with police, doctors and child-care workers following the birth of my son and I have no way of having it addressed at present.

I’ve had police repeatedly show up with guns around my family. I’ve been accused of being a radical, a terrorist, a criminal and a mental patient. All without a single diagnosis, conviction or shred of evidence to provide some sort of foundation for the allegation.

My family has been torn apart by it and we’ve been made homeless. Legal aid is refusing to adequately represent us, despite our impoverished status. I have a certificate but no lawyer. My son has been taken from the care of both of his parents and put in the care of people hostile to us. We have no history of alcoholism, drug abuse or violence, but that doesn’t seem to matter to those involved.

My business and livelihood were destroyed by the police raiding my home and seizing all my computers. The charges that allowed them to do that we’re withdrawn at first appearance, but i’m still being pursued for marijuana-related issues that arose from the search. No trafficking offense, just personal use without a prescription. I have a prescription now, but the Crown still wants to punish me for speaking out about what I saw.

The Dunphy Inquiry has since come and gone. Evidence has come forward that the officer who shot Dunphy was involved in my detainment along with his best friend, another officer who is under active investigation for the fourth time. Complaints have been filed, but they will take quite a bit of time to get anywhere.

At present, i’ve had to leave my son behind in Labrador with his mother in the care of the people who it turned out played a role in my original detainment and subsequent issues we faced. I spent the last two months living in an emergency homeless shelter trying to have situation addressed once that information came to light. I kept a full-time job for that time and contacted legal aid frequently about the matter. They’ve persistently delayed assigning a new lawyer and have compounded the matter by allowing it to continue without being addressed. I’m currently back in Corner Brook, still very homeless, but I hope to be able to press the issue in the coming days.

I’ll try to provide an accurate recounting of what happened to bring about this current state. The story is filled with judgmental people, discrimination and human rights abuses. I don’t know if telling this tale will prove to have any benefit, but I feel like it should be told.

If nothing else, maybe my son will get to read it when he’s older and understand why his parents, who both love him dearly, weren’t allowed to be around him.