When I flushed the toilet, the tank exploded behind me. The bulb was on the ground and water was gushing everywhere. That moment I will never forget, because it is a mix of confusion, annoyance and the realization that there were only moments to react. I told my coworker I had to let her go. Emergency maintenance was the next number I dialed.
No, it's not normal for toilets to explode. After further research by several television engineers, we came to three conclusions. A toilet will explode if it has a faulty Flushmate apparatus in the tank, if the pressure of the tank was compromised or if an explosive had been placed in the tank. I did not have a Flushmate. I did not place explosives in my tank. So, it was a pressure issue.
I did make a call to two local plumbers who install Flushmates, and they did not want to be identified or comment on the Flushmate explosions.
When I moved in a year and half earlier, I left an abusive situation, had massive PTSD and ended up in a very contentious divorce. I saw the signs everywhere, but did not put them together — the water lines were full of mold. The mold compromised everything. It compromised both of my faucets, my Brita filter, my tub, my washer, and my toilet bowl. I had no idea it was building in the toilet tank, too. I tried everything to clean it all, but I just couldn't fix it. At that point, I was too bogged down to figure out the problem was likely systemic. I had never seen anything like it.
The neighbor from downstairs knocked on my door. I answered and she told me the water was cascading into her whole apartment. I went down to look, and it was just coming straight through any place it could come in the ceiling. It was coming through the smoke alarm, so I tried to stand on one of her leather chairs to take out the battery, but I was not tall enough.
I went back upstairs and waited for maintenance, holding up the bulb to stop the water. Maintenance arrived, assessed and left to shut the water off.
Then there was another knock on the door. I yelled for the maintenance guy to come back in. But he did not. I let the bulb fall and the water flow, so I could let him in. But what I found were several police officers. This situation did not require police officers. They wanted to come into the apartment. I refused, because they did not have a warrant. I asked them why there were there and who called them. They could not tell me. They had to call dispatch to get some details about the nature of the call.
They pointed out a large gash on my arm, and they asked to come in to check it out. I told them that we could step out into the hall, so that they could inspect it. I had not realized I was hit by the explosion. There was very little blood anywhere. Later, I would see a little on the door as I answered it. It would take months for the ceramic shrapnel to vacate my body.
I told officers I would wait for EMT to arrive. They were not okay with that. They demanded entry into my apartment. I refused again. I tried to shut the door and one of the officers used his boot to block it. They rushed my apartment while I explicitly several times told them to "Get the f*** out." Then the EMT's showed up. Police had already decided to put me under arrest with no cause. I was dragged out of my apartment without examining my wound, took me to a hospital for evaluation, and then searched my home without a warrant. I was released a short time later after 12 stitches in my right arm.
Apparently, noticing my gash, the maintenance manager called 911 to request assistance. What police told me is that he had the right to let them have access to the apartment and I could not stop them. He was not there at the time they asked for access and they could not tell me why they were there. I don't believe it to be true he could grant them access, but I have not followed up on it yet. I had too much going on and had to let this go.
This police department was highlighted by President Barack Obama as one of the model community police departments in the country. I do not agree anymore. I have watched them slam Black teens to the ground for what they assessed as disobedience. I have watched them lie again and again. File false charges. I myself have filed excessive force complaints against them. I have watched them harass people, myself included. And I have watched them horse around when they should be solemn in court or protecting our citizens.
I have no disrespect for the police. I spent many years writing stories about the amazing work they do in the community. However, there are aspects of the culture that does need to change.
