A woman from Nova Scotia expressed regret over alerting the RCMP about a reckless driver, as it led to an unexpected situation where an officer entered her home without her knowledge. Robin MacDougall was traveling from Antigonish to Port Hawkesbury on Highway 104 in June to celebrate Father’s Day with her parents when she observed a vehicle ahead of her swerving on the road. After calling 911, the dispatcher instructed her to call back if she or the erratic driver exited the highway. MacDougall made a second call less than 10 minutes later as she approached an exit for Port Hawkesbury, informing the dispatcher that the erratic driver was heading towards Cape Breton.
To her surprise, MacDougall received a call from an RCMP officer while having lunch with her parents, informing her that they had mistakenly ended up at her house. MacDougall and her partner, who was at work, usually left their back door unlocked, allowing the officer to enter the house. Perplexed by the officer’s presence and concerned about her cats escaping, MacDougall contacted her friend Jade Lowe for assistance. Lowe arrived to find the officer apologetic and slightly flustered upon opening the door.
Despite feeling that her privacy was violated, MacDougall found herself in disagreement with Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hillier, the head of the RCMP detachment in Antigonish, who defended her officers’ actions. Hillier explained that due to a disconnected call from MacDougall, which prevented further communication, an officer was dispatched to her residence to ensure the safety of the individual in distress. Refuting Hillier’s claim of a dropped call, MacDougall cited her consistent phone connection and lack of evidence for a third call to the RCMP. The officer’s unexpected visit has left MacDougall uncertain about how to handle similar situations in the future.