INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT- Break and Enter
START TIME: 16:12 hrs LOCATION: District 7 Interview Room 2 PRESENT: Cst. Morrison, Tyler Jenson
(SCENE SETTING: Cst. Morrison enters. The room is set up according to Chapter 9 guidelines: clear table, no barriers, seated at a 45-degree angle to the suspect. Jenson is seated in the corner, looking disheveled, sweating, and picking at his nails—consistent with coming down from methamphetamine.)
CST. MORRISON: Hey Tyler. Thanks for waiting. I know you’ve been sitting here a bit. Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee?
JENSON: (Shaking head, looking at the floor) No. I just want to get this over with.
CST. MORRISON: I hear you. It’s been a long afternoon. I just want to make sure you’re comfortable first. You warm enough in here?
JENSON: Yeah. It’s fine.
CST. MORRISON: Okay. Before we get into anything, Tyler, we need to handle the legal housekeeping. I know the arresting officer read you your rights, and I know you’ve already spoken to Legal Aid duty counsel, correct?
JENSON: Yeah. I talked to them.
CST. MORRISON: Good. I want to confirm that you understand that you do not have to say anything to me. You have the right to remain silent. You also have the right to speak to a lawyer again if you feel you need to. Do you understand those rights?
JENSON: Yeah, I understand.
CST. MORRISON: And just so we are clear on the record: Are you choosing to talk to me voluntarily right now?
JENSON: Yeah. I guess.
CST. MORRISON: (Operating Mind Check) I noticed you’re sweating a bit and you seem a little jittery. I know you’ve got a history with using. Are you feeling clear-headed enough to know what’s happening right now? Can you tell me in your own words what we are doing here?
JENSON: (Sighs) Yeah. I’m coming down, but I’m awake. We’re at the station. You’re gonna ask me about the house.
CST. MORRISON: Okay. If at any point you feel too sick to talk, you tell me, okay?
JENSON: Sure.
PHASE 1: RAPPORT & BASELINE
(Cst. Morrison leans back, open posture, lowering the volume of his voice to match Jenson’s low energy.)
CST. MORRISON: Look, Tyler, I’ve been reading through your file a bit. I see you’re 22. That’s young to be dealing with all this heavy stuff.
JENSON: Doesn’t feel young.
CST. MORRISON: I bet. Living the way you’ve been living—couch surfing, not knowing where the next meal or the next fix is coming from—that ages a person fast. It looks exhausting.
JENSON: (Looks up for the first time) It sucks. I’m tired of it.
CST. MORRISON: I can see that. You look like a guy who is just running on fumes right now. How long have you been dealing with the meth?
JENSON: Since I was like... 19. When my dad got locked up.
CST. MORRISON: That’s a tough break. Losing that support system puts a lot of pressure on a guy. You trying to handle that on your own?
JENSON: Yeah. My mom’s not really around. Just me.
CST. MORRISON: That’s a lot of weight to carry, Tyler. When you’re alone, and the addiction starts making the decisions for you, it’s hard to stop the train.
JENSON: Yeah.
(NOTE: Rapport is established. Jenson is engaging. Morrison has successfully deployed an "Exhaustion/Lifestyle" theme to lower resistance.)
PHASE 2: THEME INTRODUCTION (NORMALIZATION & RESPONSIBILITY SHIFT)
CST. MORRISON: Tyler, I want to talk to you about today. But before I do, I want you to know something. I’ve dealt with a lot of guys in your position. And there are two types of people I meet in this room. There are the guys who plan this stuff out—they wake up, they map out a house, they want to hurt people, they want to cause damage. That’s a "criminal." And then there are guys who are just trying to survive. Guys who are sick, who are hurting, and who make a split-second decision because the addiction is screaming at them. Looking at you, knowing you’re 22 and exhausted... you don’t strike me as a predator. You strike me as a guy who was desperate.
JENSON: I’m not a predator.
CST. MORRISON: I didn’t think so. Predators hurt people. Predators enjoy the fear. Today, nobody got hurt. That tells me something about you. It tells me that violence wasn’t the plan.
JENSON: I didn’t hurt anyone.
(NOTE: This is the first "Soft Admission." By denying the violence, he is implicitly accepting presence at the scene. Morrison uses the "Not a Violent Guy" Theme.)
CST. MORRISON: Exactly. And that’s the most important thing to the judge and to me right now. But we need to clear up the rest of it.
PHaSE 3: DENIAL & SOFT CONFRONTATION
CST. MORRISON: We know you were at the house on Hawkwood Drive today. The homeowner saw a guy matching your description. We have video of a guy in your exact clothes entering the yard. And when officers stopped you, you had the watches in your pocket. I need you to help me understand why this happened today. Was it the sickness? Was it the debt? What pushed you?
JENSON: (Crossing arms, looking away) I didn’t break into that house. I found that stuff.
CST. MORRISON: (Pauses. Does not argue. Keeps tone calm.) You found it?
JENSON: Yeah. In the alley. Someone must have dropped it. I just picked it up. I’m on probation, man, I can’t be doing B&Es.
(NOTE: This is the "Found It" denial pathway. Morrison utilizes the "Disarming Technique" from Chapter 11.)
CST. MORRISON: Tyler, look. I respect that you’re scared. You’re on probation, and you’re worried about going back to jail. That’s a real fear. But finding two expensive watches and a jar of coins right behind a house that just got hit, while running from the police... that’s a hard story for anyone to believe. And if you stick to that story, you look like someone who is trying to game the system. You don’t strike me as a liar. You strike me as a guy who got caught in a bad moment. I think you saw a quiet house, you were feeling sick from the drugs, and you made a fast decision. Is that closer to the truth?
JENSON: I really did find them.
CST. MORRISON: (Shifting to Evidence Gradient.) Okay. Let’s look at it this way. We have a neighbour’s camera. It shows a guy in your black hoodie, your grey joggers, your exact shoes, walking into that backyard at 2:48 PM. Not finding stuff in the alley—walking into the yard. And we found a pry bar in your pocket. The marks on the back door match that bar perfectly. Tyler, the evidence is already there. The "what" is done. I’m trying to understand the "why." Because if you don’t explain the "why," people are going to assume you went in there to hurt that homeowner.
JENSON: I didn’t know he was home!
(NOTE: The Pivot Point. The suspect has cracked. He denied knowing the homeowner was home, which confirms he was there. )
PHASE 4: THEME DEVELOPMENT & NARRATIVE
CST. MORRISON: (Immediately reinforcing the admission) I believe you. I 100% believe you didn’t know he was home. If you knew he was home, you wouldn’t have gone in, right? Because you aren’t looking for a fight.
JENSON: No! I thought it was empty. There were no cars.
CST. MORRISON: See? That’s what I mean. This wasn’t malicious. This was opportunistic. You saw an empty driveway, you were feeling the withdrawal kicking in, and you saw a chance to fix it. Walk me through it, Tyler. You’re walking down the alley... what happens next?
JENSON: I was just walking. I needed money. I haven’t used since yesterday morning and my skin is crawling. I saw the house. It looked dark.
CST. MORRISON: Okay. So you’re hurting. You need relief. You go into the backyard. How did you get through the door?
JENSON: (Hesitates)
CST. MORRISON: (Normalization Theme) It’s okay. You had the tool with you. Tools make it quick. You didn’t smash a window, you didn’t kick it in. You tried to be quiet, right?
JENSON: Yeah. I used the bar. It popped open easy.
CST. MORRISON: (Actus Reus Confirmation) You used the pry bar on the back door?
JENSON: Yeah.
CST. MORRISON: Then what?
JENSON: I went inside. I yelled "Hello?" first. To make sure.
CST. MORRISON: Smart. You wanted to avoid a confrontation.
JENSON: Yeah. Nobody answered. So I ran upstairs. I just wanted something small. I wasn’t trying to take their TV or nothing. Just cash or something to pawn.
CST. MORRISON: (Minimization/Impulse Theme) Quick in and out. That’s why you grabbed the watches?
JENSON: Yeah. And the coins. I saw them on the dresser. I grabbed them and then I heard the front door open.
CST. MORRISON: That must have scared the hell out of you.
JENSON: I panicked. I just ran. I ran down the stairs and out the back. I jumped the fence. I didn’t even look back until the cop car pulled up.
PHASE 5: LEGAL ELEMENTS & CORROBORATION
CST. MORRISON: Okay, Tyler. You’ve been really honest, and I appreciate that. I just want to clarify a few things to make sure my notes are perfect. You went into that house specifically to steal something to pay for drugs, right?
JENSON: Yeah.
CST. MORRISON: (Mens Rea Confirmation) And you knew you didn’t have permission to be in there?
JENSON: obviously.
CST. MORRISON: The pry bar, the gloves, the flashlight found in your pockets—those were yours? You brought them with you?
JENSON: Yeah. I carry them sometimes.
CST. MORRISON: Did you touch anyone? Did you threaten anyone?
JENSON: No! I ran as soon as I saw the guy. I didn’t even speak to him.
CST. MORRISON: Okay. That matches what the homeowner said. He said you looked scared and took off. That helps show you weren’t there to be violent.
PHASE 6: FUTURE CONSEQUENCE & CLOSING
CST. MORRISON: Tyler, you’re at a fork in the road here. You’re 22. You’ve got a record starting to build up, but you aren’t gone yet. By telling the truth today, you’ve distinguished yourself from the guys who lie to the judge’s face. You’ve shown that this was about addiction, not malice.
JENSON: Do you think they’ll go easy on me?
CST. MORRISON: (Oickle Firewall / Disclaimer ) Listen to me carefully, Tyler. I am the investigator. I don’t have any authority over your sentence, your bail, or what the Crown decides to do. I can’t promise you what the judge will say. But my job is to present the facts. And the facts now include your explanation—that you were sick, that you checked to see if it was empty, and that you ran to avoid violence. I can promise you that your version of events will be in my report.
JENSON: Okay. Thanks.
CST. MORRISON: I’m going to type up a quick summary of what we just said—that you entered the home to get money for drugs, used the pry bar, took the watches, and fled when the owner returned. I’ll get you to read it over and sign it if it’s accurate. Sound fair?
JENSON: Yeah. That’s fair.
CST. MORRISON: (Standing up) Okay. Sit tight. I’ll be right back.
END TIME: 16:38 hrs
CASE ANALYSIS: WHY THIS WORKED
Preparation (The Funnel): The officer identified that Jenson’s pressure points were his addiction and his lifestyle exhaustion. He avoided the "Bad Guy" label which would have triggered a fight.
Theme Selection: The officer used Normalization (addiction drives behavior) and Identity (you aren't a predator) to lower the shame barrier.
Denial Handling: When Jenson used the "Found It" denial, the officer didn't get angry. He used Soft Confrontation, pointing out the illogical nature of the lie ("finding watches and running?") without calling him a liar.
The Pivot: The moment Jenson said "I didn't know he was home," the officer recognized the Partial Admission and immediately reinforced it rather than asking "So you admit you broke in?".
Legal Safety: The officer explicitly used the Oickle Disclaimer when asked about the sentence, ensuring the confession remains voluntary and admissible in court.
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
START TIME: 17:05 hrs LOCATION: District 7 Interview Room 1 PRESENT: Det. Patel, Tyler Jenson
(SCENE SETTING: Det. Patel enters with a thick file folder and a singular, sealed evidence bag containing the pry bar. He places them on the table with a heavy thud. He sits down, pauses, and looks at Jenson for a long ten seconds before speaking. This is a "Control" tactic—using silence to establish authority.)
DET. PATEL: Alright, Tyler. We’ve got the legal side out of the way. You’ve talked to your lawyer. You know you don’t have to talk to me. You know you can leave or stop at any time. We’re clear on the Charter?
JENSON: (Leaning back, trying to look bored) Yeah. We’re clear.
DET. PATEL: Good. Because I’m not here to waste time, and looking at your file, you’ve been through the system enough times to know how this works. You aren’t a rookie. So I’m not going to treat you like one.
JENSON: Whatever you say.
DET. PATEL: (Operating Mind Check) I see you’re coming down a bit. Sweating. A bit twitchy. I need to know you’re actually here with me. What are you charged with right now?
JENSON: Break and Enter. Breaching my probation.
DET. PATEL: Correct. So you’re sharp enough to track this conversation. Good.
PHASE 1: RAPPORT VIA "PROFESSIONAL RESPECT"
DET. PATEL: (Opens the file folder, flips through pages casually) Looking at your history, Tyler... 2023, the garage B&Es. 2024, the possession of tools. You’ve been active. But looking at these reports, you were usually careful. Quiet. In and out. Today? Today was sloppy. Middle of the day? Occupied house? Running from uniforms down an alley? That doesn’t look like you. That looks like the drugs making decisions for you.
JENSON: I didn’t break into that house.
DET. PATEL: (Holds up a hand) We’ll get to the details. I’m just talking about the style. See, I respect a guy who knows his business. But meth? Meth makes smart guys do stupid things. It makes professional property guys act like desperate amateurs. I’m looking at this file, and I’m asking myself: "Is Tyler turning into a violent home invader? Or is he just a property guy who got sloppy because he needed a fix?" Because those are two very different files on my desk.
JENSON: I’m not violent.
DET. PATEL: I didn't think so. But the problem with getting sloppy is that people get the wrong idea.
PHASE 2: THEME DEPLOYMENT (DAMAGE CONTROL / LABELING)
DET. PATEL: Here is the situation. We have a homeowner, Mr. Thomas. He walks into his own house and finds a stranger in his hallway. He’s terrified. He thinks he’s about to be attacked. Now, in the court system, there is "Break and Enter." And then there is "Home Invasion." "Break and Enter" is a property crime. It’s about stuff. "Home Invasion" is a violence crime. It’s about terrorizing people in their sanctuary. Right now, the Crown is looking at this file and they see a guy inside an occupied house. They are thinking "Home Invasion." They are thinking 5 to 7 years. My job right now is to figure out if you went in there to hurt Mr. Thomas, or if you just thought the house was empty and you were looking for things to pawn.
JENSON: (Defensive) I didn’t know he was there!
DET. PATEL: (Pauses. Leans in.) You didn’t know he was there? So you checked first?
JENSON: I... I didn’t say I was there. I said I didn’t know.
DET. PATEL: Tyler, don’t insult my intelligence. We’re past "I wasn't there." Let’s look at the table.
PHASE 3: THE EVIDENCE GRADIENT (LOGIC & REASON)
DET. PATEL: (Points to the sealed evidence bag containing the pry bar) You know what this is. We pulled it out of your pocket. We have fresh pry marks on the back door of 27 Hawkwood Drive. If I send this to the lab for tool mark comparison, what are they going to tell me? Are they going to tell me this bar matches those marks?
JENSON: I carry that for work. I do landscaping.
DET. PATEL: In November? In a hoodie? While running away from a house that just got pried open? Tyler, look at the timeline. 14:47: Homeowner calls 911. Says a guy in a black hoodie ran out the back. 14:48: Neighbour’s CCTV shows a guy in your exact hoodie, your exact shoes, walking into the yard. 14:56: Cst. Patel sees you running three blocks away. And when we catch you, what’s in your pocket? Two watches. Now, you can tell me you "found them." But let’s be real. Nobody finds two Rolexes and a pry bar in an alley and then runs from the cops. The "I wasn't there" story is dead. It makes you look like a liar, and judges hate liars. Judges can work with people who have addiction issues. They can work with property offenders. They crush liars and home invaders. You need to decide which lane you’re in.
JENSON: (Shifting in seat, looking at the pry bar) If I talk, I’m admitting to the breach. I go back to jail.
DET. PATEL: (Rational Choice Theme) You’re likely going back to jail either way, Tyler. The evidence is overwhelming. The question isn’t "Jail or No Jail." The question is: "Six months for a B&E and a Breach?" Or "Four years for Robbery and Home Invasion because you refused to explain your intent?" You’re a rational guy. Do the math. Which sentence do you want to serve?
JENSON: I wasn’t trying to rob the guy. I didn’t even see him until he yelled.
DET. PATEL: (Softens tone immediately - The Pivot) Okay. Stop there. That is important. That is the difference between a predator and a mistake. Tell me about that moment. You’re inside. You didn’t see him. What happened?
PHASE 4: NARRATIVE & SEQUENCE (THE "PROFESSIONAL" WALKTHROUGH)
JENSON: I was upstairs. In the bedroom. I heard the front door slam. I froze. I thought maybe it was just wind or something. Then I heard footsteps.
DET. PATEL: So you weren’t waiting for him? You weren’t lying in wait to ambush him?
JENSON: No! God no. I wanted to get out. As soon as I saw him at the bottom of the stairs, I bolted. I went out the back way.
DET. PATEL: You ran away from the confrontation.
JENSON: Yeah.
DET. PATEL: That helps you. That proves you weren’t there for violence. Let’s back up to the entry. A guy with your experience usually checks the house first. You thought it was empty?
JENSON: Yeah. No cars in the driveway. Blinds were closed. It looked dead.
DET. PATEL: So this was a target of opportunity. You needed cash?
JENSON: (Looks down) I owe money. Bad money. And I needed to pick up.
DET. PATEL: (Validation) I figured. The meth doesn't pay for itself. So you see the house. You check the driveway. Walk me through the door.
JENSON: Went around back. Screen door was unlocked. The main door was locked.
DET. PATEL: And the pry bar?
JENSON: (Nods at the table) Used that. Just popped the jamb. It was old wood, it gave easy.
DET. PATEL: (Actus Reus Confirmation) So you forced the door with the bar, entered the kitchen?
JENSON: Yeah.
DET. PATEL: What was the plan inside?
JENSON: Just small stuff. Cash, jewelry. Stuff I could pocket.
DET. PATEL: (Mens Rea Confirmation) You went in specifically to steal things to pay your debt?
JENSON: Yeah.
DET. PATEL: And the watches?
JENSON: They were on the dresser in the master bedroom. I grabbed them and the coin jar. Then I heard the guy.
PHASE 5: HANDLING THE "DRUG" DEFENSE (RESPONSIBILITY)
DET. PATEL: Tyler, I appreciate you clarifying this. It separates you from the violent guys. Now, I know you were using today. When you made that decision to hit the door, did you know what you were doing? Or are you going to tell me you were so high you were a zombie?
JENSON: I was high... but I knew what I was doing. I needed the money.
DET. PATEL: (Clarification) So the drugs provided the motive, but you were still making the choices. You chose that house. You chose to run.
JENSON: Yeah. I guess.
DET. PATEL: That’s honest. It shows you’re taking responsibility for the bad decision, not just blaming the pipe.
PHASE 6: CLOSING & LEGAL SAFEGUARDS
DET. PATEL: Okay. I have a clear picture now.
You targeted the house because you thought it was empty.
You forced the door to steal items for drug money.
When the owner returned, you fled immediately to avoid violence. Is that accurate?
JENSON: Yes.
DET. PATEL: (The Oickle Firewall) Before we write this down, I need to be 100% clear with you. I am an investigator. I gather facts. I do not determine your sentence. I do not control your probation officer. I cannot promise you that the judge will go light on you because you talked. All I can promise is that I will submit a report that says you were cooperative, that you admitted to the B&E, and that you clarified you had no violent intent. Do you understand that distinction?
JENSON: Yeah. I understand.
DET. PATEL: Okay. I’m going to prepare a written statement. We’re going to get this done, and then we’ll get you processed so you’re not sitting in this chair all night.
END TRANSCRIPT
ANALYSIS OF NEW TACTICS
Tone Shift: Unlike the previous "Parental/Empathetic" tone, Det. Patel used a "Peer-to-Peer / Business" tone. He respected Jenson’s "criminal experience" rather than pitying his addiction. This works well for repeat offenders who resent being talked down to.
Theme - "Damage Control": Instead of minimizing the crime ("it was a mistake"), Patel maximized the risk of the alternative ("It looks like Home Invasion"). This creates a rational incentive to confess to the B&E to avoid the heavier implied charge.
Denial Handling - Logic: When Jenson claimed he "found" the items, Patel didn't use soft empathy. He used hard logic ("Nobody finds a pry bar and Rolexes in an alley"). He challenged Jenson’s intelligence, prompting Jenson to drop the lie to save face.
Evidence Usage: Patel put the evidence (pry bar) on the table immediately. This is a higher-pressure tactic than the previous version, signalling "I already know everything," which compels a "street-smart" suspect to cut a deal rather than bluff.
Operating Mind: Patel explicitly checked that Jenson wasn't blaming the drugs for loss of intent, only for motive. This protects the Mens Rea element in court.