I live in Alberta Canada and am an adult.

I went to the police detachment to get a police record check for employment two weeks ago. An officer contacted me and asked me to go to the office because they wanted to discuss something that they found on my files.

I went to the detachement the next morning and they handed me a paper stating that I have an Outstanding Warrant in Quebec for Fraud from 2001 (I was an adult in 2001). I was shocked to say the least. I didn't know what this was. I have never done anything wrong and I was completely confused. The officer I spoke to told me to call the Quebec police to figure out the details. Then sent me home with the envelope.

After MUCH deliberation I do remember one thing. In 2001 I was questioned regarding a theft at my place of employment. I don't remember how much (I seem to remember a larger amount but I'm not 100%) and nothing happened after that. I did move to a different city (still in province) a few months later but not far. As a matter of fact, my house was broken in to about 2 months after the questioning and I contacted the Quebec Police. They came to my home and documented everything. Not one person came to see me about anything. I have always followed the law through and through and I have never been charged for anyting in my life.

My questions would be:

What can happen to me?

Do I need to get in touch with a lawyer before contacting the Quebec Police detachment who has this Warrant?

How can there be a warrant out there for me and I never knew about it?

Thank you in advance for any advise

My questions would be:

What can happen to me?

Do I need to get in touch with a lawyer before contacting the Quebec Police detachment who has this Warrant?

How can there be a warrant out there for me and I never knew about it?

Thank you in advance for any advise


You can be arrested and put in jail because you have an outstanding warrant against you - it would appear that if someone wants to arrest you they now know where you live; yes, I would contact an Attorney - that warrant can be executed in any Province; the only way to know how/why you missed a Court appearance is to look at the file. Perhaps it was issued (and mailed) after you moved. Only the Court file will show the details. Anything else is a guess.

I don't understand the connection between your questioning for employee theft and the break in at your home.

Yes you need an attorney, you can be detained anytime you come into contract with the police and arrested and transported to the city where the warrant is issued.

The only reason you were not handcuffed at this point is that most likely the city that has the warrant does not want to pay to have you transported.

Also this warrant ( showing you a wanted criminal) will show up on your background check ( normally) and will effect jobs and other things you do.

Remember they have to prove the case and often saying nothing is the best thing, since many people who could walk free are in prison because they did not keep their mouth closed.

So don't meet with anyone again, don't say anything them without an attorney

I would first contact the office that issued the warrant and find out what it was about WITHOUT volunteering any information. Play dumb and just say you do not understand why you have a warrant when you have never broken any law or received a summons. It is possible the warrant was a case of mistaken identity or was dropped and the records not updated. So it may be simple to fix. However, if they want you to come into the police or appear in court, then you need to get a lawyer.

I would first contact the office that issued the warrant and find out what it was about WITHOUT volunteering any information. Play dumb and just say you do not understand why you have a warrant when you have never broken any law or received a summons. It is possible the warrant was a case of mistaken identity or was dropped and the records not updated. So it may be simple to fix. However, if they want you to come into the police or appear in court, then you need to get a lawyer.

Agree with you - I answered based on the fact that it's a warrant from 2001 and OP has a dim memory of being questioned for fraud in 2001. Seems like a big coincidence but anything is possible.

There is no connection with the questioning and the break in at my home.
To clarify: On the document I received this week, it states that the Warrant was issued on April 29th 2001. My home was broken in to in August 2001 and I contacted the police. They came to my home and took all of my information. A thorough investigation was done. Why didn't any of the officers mention anything or come back to ask me anything at that point regarding this warrant?
I'm having a hard time understanding all if this.

It won't be the first time the Police don't "run" a name when they really should. Maybe there was no reason to "run" your name. Maybe the Warrant had been issued but not yet hit the system.

I realize this has suddenly been dropped on you but people are stopped for warrants on a fairly regular basis, warrants which are a surprise to them.

It would seem to me to be an enormous coincidence if you remember a problem in 2001 and the Warrant was issued in 2001.

And of course, my son was "picked up" or held at a traffic stop some time back, turns out someone else had used his ID, and did some crimes and the warrant was in his name and birthdate, but the fingerprints did not match,

So many things are possible