Writer stopped by police in his own garden, cited 'suspected deviant behavior'

A writer for the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter recounts an unsettling encounter where he was stopped by police while standing in his own garden and asked for identification. The officer cited "suspected deviant behavior" and mentioned drug trafficking in the area as the reason for the check.

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You have a suspected deviant behavior.

The writer, who is of foreign origin, describes a history of being stopped by police, even when driving a newspaper-owned car or when attending book events. He feels that despite his success, he is still subjected to humiliation and that his profession is all that remains of his identity, with any deviation from the norm making him a target.

He notes that the police officer seemed to accept his explanation and returned his driver's license quickly. The writer speculates that his Småland accent, clean-shaven appearance, or first name might have influenced the officer's decision. He contrasts this with a hypothetical scenario where his sisters might have succeeded in naming him Mario, which he believes would have made him a greater target.

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We cannot find any logged events regarding identifications made under police law §14.

Following the incident, the writer contacted a police chief to inquire about the lack of documentation for the identity check. The response indicated no logged events related to identifications made under police law, nor any ongoing operations that would explain the stop. This lack of record-keeping leaves the writer questioning the basis for the police's actions and the definition of "suspected deviant behavior."

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I have also checked if any operation or intervention was ongoing that could explain why you were asked for ID, without finding any case with a true connection to it.