Homeless in Vancouver: An arrest or friendly chat with handcuffs?

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      It seems to me that two young men were arrested last night in the 1400 block of West Broadway.

      I was in the McDonald’s on the same block. At about 9 p.m. I saw the flashing emergency lights of a marked police cruiser, which was then joined by a paddy wagon.

      At 10 p.m. I was unlocking my bike to leave and got a good look at the two guys who were in police custody, if not under arrest.

      Both were 20-something, clean-cut Caucasian males.

      The one in the paddy wagon was easy to spot and looked suitably concerned. A police officer was explaining the young man’s situation to him.

      The other fellow wasn’t immediately clear to me. He had his back to the building and three of the police officers were facing him—two in uniform; one in plainclothes.

      The fellow—in T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers—with his back to the building was holding forth to the police officers in the friendliest, most convivial manner you could imagine.

      I thought at first he was another police officer in plainclothes shooting the breeze with his colleagues, but then I saw his hands were handcuffed behind his back.

      He sure wasn’t letting it bother him.

      I got the idea that drugs were involved, but don’t take my word for it. 

      Stanley Q. Woodvine

      Stanley Q. Woodvine is a homeless resident of Vancouver who has worked in the past as an illustrator, graphic designer, and writer.

      Comments

      3 Comments

      Ray

      May 27, 2014 at 1:27pm

      What is your point? Why did the GS publish this meaningless rambling?

      Stanley Q Woodvine

      May 27, 2014 at 4:31pm

      Everyone's so focused on watching out for the stereotypical criminals. Fairview is no exception. Yet it seems the really major crime in the area -- major theft, major drug dealing -- is committed by people who look and dress like they belong in the area.

      Still, when there's is a major crime wave in the area the police inevitably start questioning street people/binners. Always happens and we've yet to be the source of the crime spree so far as I know.

      But I don't think that wasn't my point. I've forgetten what it was.

      And I have no idea why the Straight picked up the post. Perhaps it was the least meaningless of the ones I posted on my blog yesterday

      the point

      May 28, 2014 at 3:07pm

      we exist in a police state. Better have your id ready for inspection.