Also, I had a great book interview today with someone I first met in June 2008 when he helped me after a sketchy encounter with Jamie Bacon's dad David in Abbotsford.
Bacon senior called me names, including maggot, then twisted my arm and tried to grab my (empty) steno pad from me. I wouldn't let that happen (because you know journalism/principle) so there was a tussle and I got my notebook back (in my mind I won, but he might have let go.)
But it got crazier. I jumped in my minivan and started racing away, wondering if David Bacon had tried to follow. I called the newsroom to say the Bacon dad had "grabbed" me. Mid-call, I lost the signal and just couldn't get it back. So the newsroom thought I had been kidnapped.
I was driving down the mountain, past many cows and fields, and I just kept dialing the newsroom (it was still legal then in June 2008 to use devices while driving and I was damn good at it.) But I just couldn't get through. I found out later that my newsroom had called IHIT...
Why waste time with a general 911 call? What I later learned was that IHIT was in a meeting with the gang task force to determine what to about escalating gang violence and then this call came about "Kim Bolan was kidnapped by the Bacon dad" and there was some alarm.
And there was talk (in the high-level police meeting) about possibly dispatching a helicopter to rescue me (though to reiterate - I wasn't kidnapped, but people thought I was.) I drove down from Strathcona Court towards downtown Abby, calling constantly but couldn't get through.
I never imagined the newsroom was in a panic, focusing on the word "grabbed" which was accurate but I didn't get the chance to qualify anything before the lost signal. My friend @fabulavancouver later told me the editors had gathered people around the citydesk to say I had been..
"taken" (where is Liam Neeson when you need him?) The newsroom was concerned and my talented reporter friends all did what reporters do - they called my cell to ask me about being kidnapped. I didn't answer (was that a confirmation?)
Eventually (like maybe 20 minutes but now - 13 years later - it seems like way longer!) I got into Abby and pulled into the parking lot of Value Village and did NOT see David Bacon tailing me. I called the newsroom again and - MIRACLE - I got through. I could hear Harold Munro..
talking to police on the other line. I was so mad: "You called police!?" "Of course," he said. Just telling police that you aren't in fact kidnapped is not enough. I was told to go report to the Abby PD counter. So I went over to the cop shop and sheepishly checked in...
And the detective who came down that day to help me suggested I could press charges. No no, I said. I am a reporter (as if that is something special.) And I met that (now retired) detective today after 13.5 years. Not sure why I am telling you this except for #bookwriting
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