Cassie and Maggie, a Canadian band from Halifax, tour the United States frequently. However, this year, the duo experienced a wild interaction with Ohio police officers during a traffic stop. Beyond questioning the two about drugs, officers asked the duo about which country they preferred before letting them go. 

Canadian group ‘Cassie and Maggie’ say they were questioned about drugs and national preference during an Ohio traffic stop

Halifax musicians Cassie and Maggie MacDonald were on tour and driving through Ohio when they noticed they had company. A police car reportedly followed them for 30 minutes before a second law enforcement vehicle approached. The second cruiser turned on its emergency lights and prompted the members of “Cassie and Maggie” to pull over. They complied, but it was only the beginning of their Ohio odyssey. 

“We pulled over immediately. And then from there, things got stranger and stranger,” the duo told CBC Canada in an interview following the bizarre traffic stop. Cassie told interviewers that she handed over their documentation, as expected. However, rather than telling the MacDonalds what prompted the stop or writing them a ticket, the officers told the duo their vehicle “tested positive for narcotics.”

Typically, police will use a K-9 unit to sniff for narcotics like methamphetamines. However, the reports don’t include mention of a police dog at the scene of the traffic stop. Still, the officers informed Cassie and Maggie that they would be separated and their vehicle inspected. The police officers separated the two and questioned them individually.

“They were very concerned — my officer who was talking to me — about fentanyl and he sort of was lecturing me almost about how much is coming through Canada and that being a huge issue,” Cassie said in the post-traffic stop interview. The officer asked her what kind of drugs were in the vehicle. She responded that there were no drugs in their vehicle, and the inspection confirmed that fact.

Disturbingly, the officer’s next question was a bit of a tangent. “Which do you prefer? Canada or America?” Even if it’s not sinister, it’s an odd question to ask a resident of another country. The surprised Canadian musician responded diplomatically. “We love America. We’ve been touring here for over a decade and we have family scattered all across many states that we visit while we’re on tour,” Cassie reportedly responded. “We feel very close to this country.” Police eventually allowed the duo to carry on with their American tour.