February 28, 2014 – Vol

February 28, 2014 – Vol. 19 No. 9 OPP names new

Feb 20 2014 commissioner EDMONTON - The Edmonton Po- Feb 20 2014 lice Service is being sued for TORONTO - A new com- $40,000 for identifying an accused missioner has been young offender in three city news- named to lead the On- papers during an effort to convince tario Provincial Police. people with outstanding warrants Vince Hawkes, who to turn themselves in. joined the force in 1984, will Page 2 take over the top post from

Feb 21 2014 Commissioner Chris Lewis, who steps down on March EDMONTON - Alberta’s top court 28 after a 35-year career. has ruled the province’s laws do Hawkes has served in a not need to be printed and pub- variety of senior positions, lished in both English and French. Page 4 most recently as deputy commissioner of field op- Feb 21 2014 erations where he’s been For the second time in two years, responsible for services to Montreal police officers will try out more than 300 communities a new work schedule of more flex- across the province. ible patrol shifts so they’ll have He also served as provin- more time with their families. cial commander of investi- Page 5 gations and organized crime, winning national recognition Feb 25 2014 for his work on several com- SYDNEY, N.S. - Cape Breton Re- mittees on organized crime Hawkes is a graduate of the Univer- gional Police have reached an and leading the development of a nation- sity of Ottawa and the University of To- agreement with the Cape Breton al strategy. ronto’s Rotman School of Management District Health Authority to recover When he takes over on March 29, and has received the Police Officer Ex- costs associated with the time po- he’ll be the OPP’s 14th commissioner. emplary Service Medal and the Queen’s lice are required to spend with pa- Premier Kathleen Wynne congratu- Diamond Jubilee Medal. tients awaiting hospital care. lated Hawkes on the appointment Thurs- In 2010, he was invested as an Officer Page 12 day, and thanked Lewis for helping to in the Order of Merit of the Police Forces make the province “safer and stronger.’’ in recognition of his exceptional service. Feb 26 2014 SASKATOON - Water damage that occurred during a check for air leaks has delayed the final phases of work on the new $122 million police headquarters in Saskatoon. Page13 the coroners service, said the inquest was social and housing organizations. called because the mandate of the agency “I think these individuals want help, they Thursday is different than that of the investigations’ just don’t know how to help themselves,” Da- february 20, 2014 office, which can recommend charges to vid Veitch, superintendent for the Edmonton Crown counsel. Police Service and project chairman, said af- “We’re a fact-finding agency, not a fault- ter providing a one-year update at the month- Feb 20 2014 finding agency,” McLintock told the Courier. ly meeting of the Edmonton Police Commis- VICTORIA - British Columbia’s for- Ray was killed after police responded to a sion. “That’s what we want to do.” mer lieutenant governor is one of two report in the 400-block of Skeena Street of a Veitch said better co-ordination is need- new judges appointed to the provin- man behaving erratically, including cracking ed between partners to address the complex cial court. the window in the lobby of a condominium needs of the program’s clients, who are often Steven Point will start in his new position complex and striking vehicles. addicts dealing with mental health issues. in Abbotsford on March 3. The report from the investigations’ of- They are more often a nuisance than law- He was first appointed to the provincial fice said an officer shot Ray twice after he breakers, Veitch said. court in 1999 but took a leave of absence in advanced on him “in what seemed to be a “It is wrong for us to criminalize this 2005 when he was appointed chief commis- sprint.” After Ray fell to the ground outside type of behaviour. Some of these are things sioner of the B.C. Treaty Process. the restaurant, the officer found a Leatherman that people have to do when they live on Point retired from the bench in 2007 multi-tool knife on the ground next to Ray. the street,” he said. “We want to help these when he became lieutenant governor, a posi- Several witness accounts revealed the individuals get to safer place, wherever it tion he held for five years. officer repeatedly told Ray to stay back and might be.” Judge Shannon Keyes will be assigned to keep away. One witness told investigators The goal of the project is to create indi- Prince George and will begin her new duties Ray was running “with his hand stretched vidual care plans for 50 people and evaluate next Tuesday. out, like the guy was going to go and try to their progress over one to two years. Using She is leaving her current job as a lawyer stab the cop.” that information, the group will try to stream- for the Criminal Justice Branch, where she One witness, who was interviewed 18 line a system to best meet their needs. has worked for nearly 14 years. days after the shooting, said she observed Addressing the commission, Veitch and (The Canadian Press) the incident from across the street, which oc- Lisa Bromley, who works for Edmonton po- curred about 8:30 p.m. lice as part of the initiative, documented the Feb 20 2014 “She appeared to suggest that she did not history of several clients with whom they The B.C. Coroners Service has called see a reason for Mr. Ray to have been shot,” have been working. an inquest into the death of a 52-year- wrote Richard Rosenthal, the Chief Civilian One homeless man with alcohol and ad- old man who was shot and killed by Director of the investigations’ office. “She diction issues and untreated mental problems Vancouver police in 2012 outside a also made comments, however, which sug- had contact with police 80 times from March McDonald’s restaurant at Hastings gested that she was not certain of her own through December of last year. After going to and Cassiar. observations.” detox and receiving continuing care through The inquest, which begins July 7, The officer had a beanbag shotgun in a the program, he has come into contact with comes 10 months after the Independent police van when he arrived at the scene. But, police only once in the last three months, and Investigations Office cleared a Vancouver he explained, the incident escalated too fast that was for a health issue. Police Department officer of any wrongdo- for him to grab the shotgun, which police of- “What we are finding is that, over time, ing in the Oct. 29, 2012 shooting death of ten resort to when dealing with suspects dif- we are getting a little more efficient at this,” Christopher Ray. ficult to restrain. Veitch said. Barbara McLintock, a spokesperson for “Under the circumstances, the officer was The program is critical to help the home- in harm’s way and lawfully used deadly force less, and relieve the burden on police, deputy to defend himself,” Rosenthal wrote. police chief Brian Simpson said. Coroner Chico Newell will preside over “Seeing somebody 50 times in a short pe- the inquest at the coroners court in Burnaby. riod is not sustainable for this police service,” Although the jury cannot make any findings said Simpson. “We know putting them in jail ISSN 1704-3913 Copyright 2014 of legal responsibility, it can make recom- is not going to help. Blue Line Magazine Inc. & The Canadian Press mendations aimed at preventing future deaths “We need to look at a better solution.” Permission to reprint may be obtained in advance from under similar circumstances. Access Copyright (Vancouver Courier) Feb 20 2014 Phone 1-800-893-5777 [email protected] EDMONTON - The Edmonton Police Published weekly by Blue Line Magazine, Inc. as an executive news Feb 20 2014 briefing service to Canada’s top level law enforcement personnel. Service is being sued for $40,000 for EDMONTON - High-needs homeless identifying an accused young offender Most information supplied in this publication is from news- wire services. As such Blue Line Magazine does not ac- people receiving assistance through in three city newspapers during an ef- cept responsibility for the accuracy of articles as supplied. a collaborative community project in fort to convince people with outstand-

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, Edmonton are having fewer run-ins ing warrants to turn themselves in. stored in an electronic database or transmitted in any form or by with police, freeing up resources for The campaign, launched in February any means, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. One Year Subscriptions more serious matters. 2012, encouraged people to turn themselves are $10500 (GST Included). Paid subscribers may make up to four Launched last year, the Heavy Users of in or risk being publicly identified and em- (4) copies of this publication for distribution within their organization. Service Project is slowly reaping benefits by barrassed by police. In April, police printed Group Publisher: Morley S. Lymburner identifying some of the city’s most troubled the name and photos of three people with out- PUBLISHER: Kathryn M. Lymburner - [email protected] NEWS EDITOR: Mark Reesor - [email protected] and vulnerable individuals and getting them standing criminal warrants under the banner Subscriptions: Blue Line Store at www.BlueLine.ca help. The initiative is a partnership between “Do you know these people?” The informa- ADVERTISING: 1-888-640-3048 12A-4981 Hwy. 7 East, Ste. 254, Markham ON L3R 1N1 Edmonton police, the City of Edmonton, Al- tion appeared in three newspapers and on the Phone: 905 640-3048 eMail: [email protected] berta Health Services and 13 other health, police department’s website. 2 One of the people identified was a Feb 21 2014 country, without limitation, for no other rea- 16-year-old girl. Under the Youth Criminal Two transit police officers initially son than their religion,’’ CCR Legal Director Justice Act, a young offender’s identity can charged with assault in relation to an Baher Azmy said. only be published with a court order. The incident on SkyTrain in February 2012 The lawsuit followed a series of stories girl’s photo and description was removed will appear in Vancouver court Friday, by The Associated Press based on confiden- from the police website the same day. facing several more charges following tial NYPD documents that showed how the The public identification of the girl was an investigation by the Vancouver Po- department sought to infiltrate dozens of “intentional and highly offensive,” reads lice Department. mosques and Muslim student groups in New the girl’s statement of claim. In addition to Const. Bruce Shipley and Const. Alfred York and elsewhere. breaching her rights, the identification caused Wong are charged with public mischief, Martini faulted the AP for its use of the the teen “distress, humiliation, anguish and breach of trust, and fabrication of evidence, documents. other mental suffering,” the lawsuit states. in addition to the original assault charges. “The Associated Press covertly obtained The suit names several officers, including Transit police spokesperson Anne Dren- the materials and published them without Chief Rod Knecht; Staff Sgt. Regan James, nan said the charges stem from new informa- authorization,’’ he wrote. “Thus the injury, if then head of the targeted offender’s section; tion related to Shipley’s and Wong’s actions any existed, is not fairly traceable to the city.’’ and Steve Young, a former officer and current in February 2012, when they allegedly physi- The AP declined to comment on the ruling. Tory MLA for Edmonton-Riverview. James cally assaulted and pepper-sprayed a 27-year- The city’s Law Department also declined and Young were both involved in launching old man at Granville Station. comment. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg the campaign. Both Shipley and Wong were charged in and former Police Commissioner Raymond Days after the girl was identified, Knecht August 2013 and have been on administrative Kelly had been staunch supporters of the sur- released a written statement and acknowl- duties since. veillance programs, saying they were needed edged the girl’s identity was released without (CBC News) to protect the city from terrorist attacks. authority. A similar lawsuit filed in federal court in “This was absolutely unacceptable for the Feb 21 2014 Brooklyn is still pending. Edmonton Police Service, and for this we sin- NEW YORK - A federal judge has ruled cerely apologize to the youth, the family and that the New York Police Department’s Feb 21 2014 Edmontonians,” Knecht wrote. surveillance of Muslims in New Jersey CALGARY - A Calgary couple says When the police campaign ended in was a lawful effort to prevent terror- they are returning money raised on April, nearly 2,700 people with outstanding ism, not a civil rights violation. their behalf for vet bills after they re- warrants has been arrested. In a decision filed Thursday in federal ported their dog had been taken from The lawsuit points out that the EPS had court in Newark, U.S. District Judge Wil- their backyard. previously “wrongfully publicized informa- liam Martini dismissed a lawsuit brought in The man said he searched the neighbour- tion about another young person.” 2012 by eight Muslims who alleged that the hood and found the pet hog-tied and with a In August 2011, police released the name NYPD’s surveillance programs were uncon- belt around its muzzle. and photo of a 17-year-old girl wanted for stitutional because they focused on religion, An online fundraising site then raised sexual assault after she failed to tell two national origin and race. The suit accused the 17-hundred dollars, to pay for the dog’s vet bills. partners she was HIV-positive. Police were department of spying on ordinary people at But investigators found no evidence the granted a temporary court order to release the mosques, restaurants and schools in New Jer- dog was taken, and a vet found no injuries girl’s identity, but police did not immediately sey since 2002. indicating the dog had been tied up. remove all identifying information from the Martini said he was not convinced that The couple tells CTV Calgary they are Internet once she was arrested. the plaintiffs were targeted solely because of returning the money for the vet bills. Statements of claim contain allegations their religion. “The more likely explanation Police say they are looking at having the not proven in court. for the surveillance was to locate budding ter- donations returned to the donors. rorist conspiracies,’’ he wrote. (The Canadian Press) The judge added: “The police could not friday have monitored New Jersey for Muslim ter- Feb 21 2014 february 21, 2014 rorist activities without monitoring the Mus- WINNIPEG - The Hells Angels Motorcycle lim community itself.’’ Club has been officially deemed a crimi- Farhaj Hassan, a plaintiff in the case and nal organization by Manitoba Justice. Feb 21 2014 a U.S. soldier who served in Iraq, said he was Attorney General Andrew Swan says Alexandria Harnum, who pleaded disappointed by the ruling. Manitoba is the first jurisdiction in North guilty to assaulting a sheriff’s officer “I have dedicated my career to serving my America to take the action. by pulling her hair out, has now been country, and this just feels like a slap in the The change does not affect criminal code charged with assaulting other officers. face - all because of the way I pray,’’ he said. cases, but makes it much easier for the prov- Harnum, 22, is accused of assaulting The Center for constitutional Rights in ince to seize property from gang members three officers on Thursday. She allegedly New York and the California-based civil and evict them from houses. kicked one officer and bit two others. rights organization Muslim Advocates, which Until now, Crown prosecutors had to She is also charged with spitting on her represented the plaintiffs, also called the deci- prove the gang was a criminal organization lawyer Derek Hogan. sion troubling. during each court case. However, Hogan told the court on Friday “In addition to wilfully ignoring the harm Swan first announced the plan to desig- that he will continue to represent Harnum, that our innocent clients suffered from the nate the Hells Angels as a criminal organi- and that wants the charges dropped. NYPD’s illegal spying program, by uphold- zation last May and the application was re- Harnum – who has a history of mental health ing the NYPD’s blunderbuss Muslim surveil- viewed by a three-member panel. issues – has had several outbursts in court. lance practices, the court’s decision gives Swan says the Hells Angels did not file She is due back on March 4. legal sanction to the targeted discrimination any objections. (CBC News) of Muslims anywhere and everywhere in this (The Canadian Press) 3 Feb 21 2014 no further details can be released. carrying a clear glass-type mug with clear OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Can- Katherine Bickford, a retired soldier liquid inside. ada says two Quebec men charged whose same-sex partner works at 19 Wing Cpl. Bert Paquet says the attack has had with drug and weapons trafficking will Comox on Vancouver Island, says the couple devastating consequences for the victim. have to stand trial again. has been identified and harassed on the page (The Canadian Press) In a 6-1 decision today, the high court along with other same-sex, single-mother and upheld a 2012 Quebec Court of Appeal deci- minority members of the Forces. Feb 21 2014 sion ordering a new trial for Antal Babos and Bickford says she believes some of the HALIFAX - A Halifax area man has Sergio Piccirilli. comments are threatening but Comox Valley been handed a 5 1/2-year prison sen- The two were arrested in 2006 during an RCMP have told her there’s not much they tence for breaking into a south-end RCMP-Quebec provincial police operation can do about the online comments. Halifax mansion in 2012 and trying to aimed at stopping drug and weapons trafficking. (The Canadian Press) abduct the owner, a mining executive. Their trial ended with a stay of proceedings Twenty-year-old Aaron Patrick MacDonald in November 2008 after the judge determined Feb 21 2014 pleaded guilty last month to four charges: break, the Crown and police had abused their powers. VANCOUVER - In a switch from the well- enter and attempted abduction; break, enter and One of the accused said a prosecutor tried known dial-a-dope bust, Vancouver Po- pointing a firearm; possession of a weapon for a to intimidate them into pleading guilty by lice say they’ve busted a dope dialing dangerous purpose; and wearing a mask in the threatening to add more charges. - but the outcome was very similar. commission of an indictable offence. The other accused alleged that two police Const. Brian Montague says a man was MacDonald was sentenced Friday in Hal- officers colluded to mislead the court about pulled over on the city’s west side for using a ifax provincial court. the circumstances surrounding a firearm cellphone while driving. Judge Michel Sherar adopted a joint rec- seizure. And a third complaint involved the When he couldn’t produce a valid li- ommendation from lawyers and gave Mac- Crown gaining access to the medical files of cence, police searched the vehicle. Donald two years’ credit for his remand time, one of the accused in an irregular manner. That’s when several thousand dollars worth leaving him with 3 1/2 years to serve. The two men were appealing the new trial of cocaine, crack, heroin and methamphetamine MacDonald was masked, wearing dark ordered by Quebec’s highest court. were seized during a search of his car. clothing and carrying a gun when he con- Drug-related charges are pending, but of- fronted Brad Langille on the lower level of Feb 21 2014 ficers say the man can mull some more im- his Oakland Road home on the morning of EDMONTON - Alberta’s top court has mediate bills. Oct. 16, 2012. ruled the province’s laws do not need He faces fines of just under $450 for the Langille hit a panic button and got away to be printed and published in both distracted driving and licence infractions. from MacDonald, who dropped his weapon, a English and French. replica 9-mm handgun, as he fled the property. The Court of Appeal of Alberta dismissed Feb 21 2014 (Halifax Chronicle Herald) a challenge by two men who were given traf- OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Cana- fic tickets several years ago. da has restored a sex assault conviction Feb 21 2014 Gilles Caron and Pierre Boutet fought against a Prince Edward Island man. Oak Bay will welcome the 13th police the tickets in court because they were written Jeffery Lea Hogg of Kensington was chief in its history when Andrew Brin- only in English. convicted in 2012 and later sentenced to 27 ton takes office on April 22. A trial judge tossed the tickets in 2008, months in prison. The 51-year-old Brinton, currently a staff ser- but a Court of Queen’s Bench judge later In a split decision in August 2013, the geant and detachment commander with Powell overturned that ruling. Prince Edward Island Court of Appeal threw River RCMP, takes over from Mark Fisher. The Appeal Court says it agrees that Alberta out the conviction and ordered a new trial. Fisher is stepping down after 21 years is not constitutionally required to publish all of its The appeal court found that the trial judge with Oak Bay to lead the RCMP in Nanaimo. legislation in both languages. erred in weighing the evidence. Brinton brings 32 years of service to his Lawyers representing the men are The Supreme Court, in a rare ruling from new post, including stints as a watch com- deciding whether to take the case to the the bench today, overturned the court of ap- mander in Parksville and a non-commis- Supreme Court. peal and restored the original conviction. sioned officer with the West Coast Marine (The Canadian Press) Written reasons for the decision were not Detachment. He said Powell River and Oak immediately released. Bay have some similarities. Feb 21 2014 “Actually, Powell River population-wise COMOX, B.C. - Military police have ar- Feb 21 2014 and the office itself are very, very similar,” he rested two soldiers over allegedly ho- SURREY, B.C. - RCMP in British Co- said. “And then I’ve worked in Parksville and mophobic and racist comments made lumbia are appealing for the public’s that sort of thing, so it’s not totally unfamiliar on a Facebook page. help in identifying a man wanted in a territory.” The Department of National Defence disturbing acid attack. Oak Bay has 24 police officers while says military police received complaints of Mounties say the man entered a Surrey Powell River has 26. defamation and harassment in early January business on Sept. 7 and threw a jar of acid on Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen, chairman of over posts on the “Cpl Bloggins’’ Facebook the owner’s wife in what police believe was a the Oak Bay Police Board, said that Brinton page and two members of Canadian Forces targeted attack. stood out in a group of well-qualified applicants. Base Petawawa were arrested on Jan. 22. He then fled on foot and likely got into a “He’s got the kind of experience that we’re No charges have been laid but earlier this vehicle waiting nearby. looking for, and we’re very pleased with the month, military police received a new com- Surrey RCMP say they’ve exhausted all approach that we’ve seen him take in Powell plaint for comments posted on another Face- possible avenues of investigation and today River regarding community policing, which is book page with the same name. released video footage, hoping someone in the mainstay of Oak Bay,” Jensen said. Military spokesman Maj. Yves Des- the public may be able to identify the suspect. “We have a ‘no-call-too-small’ policy biens says the investigation continues and In the video, a white male can be seen where the officers of the department are 4 really part and parcel of the community, overtime payments. When the project ends in October, it will be and help not only solve criminal issues but Regular hours returned last March, upset- evaluated to see if it should become the norm. other issues.” ting the rank-and-file, who walked out in protest, Brinton said he is looking forward to his blocking traffic downtown in noisy protests. Feb 21 2014 time in Oak Bay. The Brotherhood took out full-page CALGARY- A man charged with killing “The first thing I’m going to have to do newspaper advertisements showing a fake ap- an Alberta peace officer has been or- when I get there is kind of get my feet on the plication form for a job with the force, saying dered to undergo further psychiatric ground and assess the lay of the land,” he said. “the ideal candidate has no family life.” evaluation. He will get a start on that Sunday when The officers complained of working hours Trevor Kloschinsky is charged with the he pays a visit to the municipality for an ori- that shift from days to nights with no set pat- first-degree murder of retired Mountie Rod entation session with Fisher. tern. They preferred less frequent switching Lazenby. Brinton said Fisher has a solid reputation from day shifts to night shifts, and more work Lazenby was investigating a dog com- that he will try to live up to. in the evenings. plaint on a ranch near Priddis when he was “My role is just to carry on with what After more discussion, a tentative deal be- killed on August 10, 2012. sounds like some pretty positive momentum.” tween the union and management was reached It’s alleged Kloschinsky then drove La- The announcement of Brinton’s hiring in December on the new plan, subject to a vote. zenby to a Calgary police station. Lazenby brings to four the number of new chief constables in Greater Victoria police departments in less than a year. Bob Downie took over in Saanich this month, Frank Elsner started with the Victo- ria Police Department in early January, and Larry Chomyn was named to head the West Shore RCMP last June.

Feb 21 2014 For the second time in two years, Mon- treal police officers will try out a new work schedule of more flexible patrol shifts so they’ll have more time with their families. Management and rank-and-file agreed to the pilot project after a vote in favour by a strong majority of the union’s 4,600 police officers, announced Thursday. The new hours start March 9 and last until Oct. 4, and affect more than 500 officers, many of whom are young parents, in 11 of the force’s 33 precincts. Thirty per cent of the force is female and 600 officers are in a conjugal relationship. Patrol officers with young families have long argued for more flexible hours. Under their work schedule, established in 1978, officers have to work one week of days, one week of evenings and one week of nights, over 35 days. They have to work three weekends out of five. Under the pilot project, over 70 days they’ll work 35 and have 35 off. Some will work mostly nights, some will work longer shifts up to nearly 12 hours, and none will work more than one or two weekend shifts. The public shouldn’t notice a difference, the police say. “Our priority is just to give the same service, at the same cost, and that at the end of the day it’s good for the officers who want to reconcile work and family,” said Ian Lafrenière, spokesperson for the Montreal police. A spokesman for the police Brotherhood declined to comment. In 2012, a year-long pilot project changing work hours for all police officers and investigators was tried, but management deemed it too unfair and too costly in

5 was later pronounced dead in hospital. store, search out, retrieve and analyze “vast Police have never released the cause of death. amounts” of data. This, he said, can help po- Kloschinsky has already had 60 days of lice link “seemingly unconnected” crimes. saturday psychiatric testing but on Friday that was ex- “By mining intelligence resources through february 22, 2014 tended for another two weeks. multiple databases, RTIC-BC will help front- “The assessment process is required be- line police officers and investigators quickly Feb 22 2014 cause of the complexity,” says Kloschinky’s identify and locate dangerous criminals,” lawyer, Maggie O’Shaughnessy. “Another Fordy explained. “This will assist Lower TORONTO - Authorities in Toronto psychiatrist is being brought in to deal with the Mainland police in overcoming challenges have charged a woman with trying assessment because it is a complex matter.” associated with jurisdictional boundaries and to smuggle more than 10-thousand It’s alleged Kloschinsky lay in wait for limited resources. rough diamonds into Canada. three days on his property in an attempt to catch “Analysts working within the RTIC-BC The Canada Border Services Agency says the person he believed was stealing his dogs. will have a far greater breadth and depth of ac- Helena Freida Bodner was arrested on Febru- A search warrant document states after La- cess to police and law enforcement databases ary 3rd at Toronto’s Pearson airport, and ap- zenby arrived at the property, the two got into a that dispatchers, police officers and municipal peared in court yesterday. fight and Kloschinsky overpowered the officer. police analysts simply do not have,” he said. The agency says Bodner carried the Kloschinsky will be back in court on (The Now) gems - about 15-hundred carats worth - March 7. (Global)

Feb 21 2014 SURREY — Law enforcement agencies throughout the Lower Mainland will launch Canada’s first Real Time Intelligence Centre this May. Based in Surrey, it will provide a coor- dinated regional response to serious crimes, Surrey RCMP Chief Supt. Bill Fordy said. “Immediate analytical support will be available during crimes that pose a risk to public safety, such as armed robberies, high- risk missing persons or gang violence,” Fordy explained. The RTIC-BC, as it will be known, will have 43 employees and will be located in the provincial RCMP headquarters in Surrey. Fordy touched on the program Friday, during a Surrey Board of Trade breakfast meeting in Ocean Park. “It will be the first of its kind in Canada,” Fordy said. “Once we work through all the glitches, it will be awesome.” Fordy noted that there are similar crime- fighting initiatives in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago and Puerto Rico. Since adopting its Real Time Crime Centre in 2006, the Memphis Police department has noted a 30 per cent reduction in serious crime and a 20 per cent reduction in violent crime. Each municipality and city in the Lower Mainland will contribute to the RTIC-BC and costs will be shared between the federal, provincial and civic governments. Fordy said RTIC-BC will be running 24/7, all year, by 2015 and will expand to include the Victoria Capital Regional District in 2016, and the entire province the following year. It will focus on shootings, murders, attempted murders, armed robberies, sex as- saults, AMBER alerts, high-risk missing persons cases, home invasions, hostage takings, acts of terrorism, gang-related incidents and “emerging events that threaten public safety.” Fordy said recent technological advance- ments have enabled police to be able to 6 “internally,’’ though it didn’t elaborate. towns in the Chaudiere-Appalaches region Feb 24 2014 Bodner is described as a “foreign nation- south of the provincial capital. HALIFAX - A review of the Halifax police al’’ and is due back in court next month. Police found Godin’s ex-wife, Nancy department’s handling of its investiga- The diamonds, meantime, have been Samson, 44 and her new partner, Benoit tion into the death of a blind woman al- turned over to the RCMP, which is trying to Daigle, 39, outside a home in St-Croix. About most four years ago will be conducted determine where they came from. 70 kilometres away, they found Godin and his by officers from Quebec City. (The Canadian Press) daughters, Beatrice, 11 and Medora, 13, in a Halifax police says the investigation is be- home in St-Isidore. ing done because of the unusual circumstances Godin, 54, was taken to hospital on Feb. surrounding the death of Holly Bartlett. Sunday The 31-year-old woman was found un- february 23, 2014 1 in critical condition and never regained con- sciousness. He was never formally charged. conscious under the McKay Bridge in Hali- (The Canadian Press) fax early on March 27, 2010, and died in hospital the following day. Feb 23 2014 Feb 24 2014 A police investigation at the time found she Kenora OPP officer Troy Bender is be- REGINA - A public inquest is to be had become disoriented and fell off a concrete ing charged with Discreditable Con- held into the deaths of three people abutment, but last year her family told police duct by the police force. after a carbon monoxide leak at a se- they had concerns about the investigation. Back in December, Bender was acquit- niors home in Saskatchewan. Chief Jean-Michel Blais of Halifax Re- ted after being tried in Kenora on charges of The provincial government says the gional Police said officers from Quebec Criminal Negligence Causing Death stem- week-long inquest into what happened at St. City’s police department were asked to carry ming from a September 2012 car accident he Mary’s Villa in Humboldt in December 2010 out the review because they operate in a sim- was involved in which caused the death of is to begin Monday in Humboldt. ilar-sized city and are the closest with a large his prisoner, Gloria Assin, of Grassy Narrows Staff initially thought seniors were getting major crimes unit. First Nation. Blais expects the review and possible rec- Assin was in the back of Bender’s OPP sick because of a stomach virus or food poisoning. Workers were getting splitting head- ommendations to take about two months to Chevrolet Tahoe when it was struck by a semi- complete. aches, but they never thought gas poisoning trailer while he was trying to turn off the bypass (The Canadian Press) on his way to the Kenora OPP’s headquarters. was a possibility. Although Bender was acquitted of criminal There were no carbon monoxide detec- Feb 24 2014 negligence, he did plead guilty to one count of tors in the home. MONTREAL - A Canada-wide arrest war- Careless Driving and was fined $1,000. An 89-year-old priest died an hour after rant has been issued for a man wanted Now that all criminal proceedings against an evacuation of the home began and two in the murder of a Montreal woman. him are over, the police force is beginning in- other elderly women died in the weeks that Montreal police say Philippe Steele Mo- ternal disciplinary proceedings against Bender. followed. rin is being sought on charges of second-de- “He has been charged with Discredit- (The Canadian Press) gree murder in the slaying of Tricia Boisvert. able Conduct, but there’s no hearing dates set The 36-year-old Boisvert was killed in Feb 24 2014 at this point at time. However, he has been her Montreal apartment last month. charged under the Police Services Act,” OPP VICTORIA - British Columbia’s Lib- She was found six days later in a wooded spokesperson Shelly Garr confirmed. eral government believes 190 lives area near Pontiac, a municipality in the Outa- According to the Ontario Police Services have been saved since controversial ouais region in western Quebec. Act, discreditable conduct covers a wide range new impaired driving rules were intro- The 30-year-old suspect is believed to be of unacceptable behaviours by officers which duced three years ago. hiding out around the Ottawa area. can discredit or compromise the proper func- Attorney General Suzanne Anton says A Montreal charitable organization is of- tioning or discipline of their police force. Exact- drinking and driving deaths have declined 52 fering a $5,000 reward for information lead- ly what interpretation of discreditable conduct per cent since September 2010, when police ing to Steele Morin’s arrest. Bender is accused of committing is unknown. officers were given powers to issue immedi- Police in Montreal say any information it (Kenora Daily Miner and News) ate roadside suspensions for suspected im- receives will be treated confidentially. paired drivers. Anton says that since the law was in- Feb 24 2014 monday troduced, impaired driving deaths have de- FREDERICTON - Two men have been february 24, 2014 creased to an average of 54 a year from a arrested following a nearly three-hour five-year average of 112 deaths. standoff with police in Fredericton. She acknowledges the law is facing a con- Insp. Martin Gaudet says police cor- Feb 24 2014 stitutional challenge, but Anton says the gov- doned off an area around the Howard Johnson ST-CROIX, Que. - The suspect in a ernment has no plans to make changes to the Hotel on Prospect Street and negotiated with the two men in a room. quadruple slaying south of Quebec overall thrust of the legislation, introduced to Gaudet says the men surrendered without City earlier this month has died in honour four-year-old Alexa Middelaer, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2008. incident. hospital without ever having spoken Under the rules, drivers who fail or refuse He says one of the men is suspected to to investigators. have been involved in the armed robbery of a Quebec provincial police say Martin Go- a roadside screening test can be fined, have their licence suspended, or their vehicle seized. pharmace on the same street earlier in the day. din died Sunday in the hospital he’d been Part of the law was struck down as a vio- Gaudet says items were taken during the taken to after a suicide attempt. lation of constitutional rights in November robbery, but he wouldn’t confirm if those Godin was suspected in the murders of 2011, when a B.C. Supreme Court justice items were drugs or money. his ex-wife, her new boyfriend and his own ruled that penalties for drivers were too seri- He would not say if any weapons were two daughters. ous not to have an adequate appeal system. seized during the arrests. The deaths occurred in two different (The Canadian Press) (The Canadia Press) 7 Feb 24 2014 he was found not criminally responsible for in custody for the rest of his life because there is SARNIA, Ont. - A Sarnia, Ont., judge the killing of Tim McLean in 2008. no guarantee he will always take his medication. has acquitted a former Catholic priest Li, an undiagnosed schizophrenic at the of all but three of 18 sex-related charg- time, said he heard voices telling him to kill Feb 24 2014 es he faced. McLean, a complete stranger who was sitting SASKATOON - A Saskatoon court has Justice Joseph Donohue found Gabriele beside him. heard a city police officer hit a teen DelBianco, 57, guilty of one count of gross The review board holds annual hearings and blasted him with pepper spray indecency and two counts of sexual assault. to review restrictions on Li, who was initially while the youth was being held on the He found DelBianco not guilty of various kept inside a locked wing 24 hours a day. ground. other charges - including threatening death or Kremer told the hearing Li has never Const. Luke St. Onge is charged with as- bodily harm - arising from incidents involv- been violent in the hospital, no longer suf- sault causing bodily harm and assault with a ing four teenage girls during the 1980s. fers hallucinations or delusions and has weapon. Donohue says the historical nature of the made “excellent’’ progress. The teen, who was 14 at the time, testified case made it difficult and he cited reliability Kremer said the ultimate goal is to have Monday that he was missing from his group of evidence as reasoning for acquitting Del- Li reintegrated into society - something home on May 27, 2012, when he saw some Bianco on several charges. McLean’s mother has opposed. police officers and started to run. DelBianco left the priesthood in 1996 af- Carol DeDelley has said Li should be kept At the time, the officers were searching ter serving at churches in Ontario communities including Wallaceburg and Windsor. DelBianco is out of custody awaiting a sentencing hearing May 14. (BlackburnNews.com)

Feb 24 2014 TORONTO - Police in Toronto say they’ve made arrests in a drug-trafficking operation that was shipping bulk marijuana from British Columbia to Toronto for distribution. Police announced Monday that four arrests were made last week in Project Green Giant, an ongoing investigation that began early last year. Investigators say they seized 205 kilograms of marijuana, three kilograms of hashish, and cash - including nearly C$2 million, and US$462,131, as well as British Pounds and euros. Police say a large-scale hashish production lab housed in an industrial unit was dis- mantled as part of the investigation. Three men - aged 35 to 50 - from Toron- to and nearby Brampton, Ont., face a total of 18 drug-related charges, while a 31-year-old Toronto man is charged with failing to comply with a recognizance. Staff Insp. Randy Franks says the cash was seized from safety deposit boxes and represents the largest one-time cash seizure Toronto police have been involved with. (The Canadian Press)

Feb 24 2014 WINNIPEG - A doctor is suggesting that a man who beheaded a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus in Manitoba should get more freedom. Vince Li’s psychiatrist is asking the Criminal Code Review Board to let Li have unescorted day trips to Selkirk, Man. Dr. Stephen Kremer says Li should also be moved out of a locked ward and onto an unlocked ward at the Selkirk Men- tal Health Centre. Li has been at the mental hospital since

8 for a boy who was suspected of firing bear They say they’re surprised and dis- “Gang leaders will eventually make you spray at St. Onge. mayed the city may choose to restrict such do things that are illegal, and immoral and Const. Chad Nolan told court that after operations to industrial land. they don’t want to go to jail, but they don’t he tackled the fleeing teen and pinned him “Why would this be allowed in any other care if you do.” face down on the ground, St. Onge struck the zone before the zone for which agriculture was Duncan said a police officer, along with youth once in the head. intended?’’ they asked in a letter to council. other workers, will travel to communities Another officer, Const. Joseph Taylor, Last week, Lake Country also took steps across the north to deliver a two-hour pre- testified he saw St. Onge make several punch- to prevent legalized marijuana growing op- sentation in which they’ll educate and mentor ing motions towards the boy’s head, but erations from opening on farmland. young people to resist gang life. couldn’t see if any of the punches connected. An active industrial zone is better suited Called Project NorthStar, the program il- (CKOM) for such operations, Lake Country Mayor lustrates how gang recruiters appeal to young James Baker said, because byproducts such people who are in trouble at home and at school. Feb 24 2014 as smell and the noise from venting fans Duncan said the gangs offer security and KELOWNA, B.C. - The city of Kelowna would be less likely to bother adjacent land- acceptance — and downplay negative aspects. is considering rules that would limit owners. There is a lot of violence involved in the medical marijuana production to in- (Kelowna Daily Courier) lifestyle, she said. dustrial areas, barring it from agricul- “Just even to join a gang you have to go tural land within city limits. Feb 24 2014 through an initiation called a beat-in, where Council were to discuss the staff recom- TORONTO - Toronto’s police chief is you stand and let the gang members you want mendation at a meeting Monday night, and under investigation by the Office of the to be a part of beat you for anywhere from would-be commercial pot growers worry Independent Police Review Director. one to three minutes,” she said. their business plans will go up in smoke if Gangs in native communities appear to be the proposal passes. growing, Duncan noted, and she said they’re “It just doesn’t make good sense to rec- trying to counteract that trend by reducing the ommend that an agricultural product can- number of teens joining. not be grown in an agricultural zone,’’ said (CBC News) Marlys and Grant Wolfe, owners of Falcon Ridge Farms. Feb 24 2014 Farmland properties have “low over- MONTREAL — All four people injured head and (a greater) ability to expand’’ pot in a collision late Sunday between a production compared to industrially zoned Longueuil police patrol car and an- properties, said Kevin Carta, founder of A other vehicle have been released from Better Choice Medicinals. hospital, Longueuil police said. Other municipalities have restricted An investigation is underway into the in- federally licensed marijuana growing opera- The complaint against Bill Blair is in cident, which took place near the Longueuil tions to industrial lands. two parts and was submitted by Toronto city courthouse. Industrial properties are said by munici- Coun. Doug Ford. The vehicles struck about 11:20 p.m. at pal staff to be a better spot for indoor mari- Ford’s criticism involves a fishing trip the corner of Jacques-Cartier Blvd. E. and that Blair allegedly went on last year with juana operations than farmlands for a variety Roland-Therrien Blvd., Constable Jean- Police Services Board member Andy Pringle. of reasons. Pierre Voutsinos added. The second part came out of an Oct. 31, These include the possible negative im- There are traffic lights at that corner, he said. 2013, news conference at which Blair said he pact on adjacent farms, limited potential for All the injuries were considered minor, was disappointed in Mayor Rob Ford. re-purposing the property if the marijuana Voutsinos said. production business shuts down, the neces- At that news conference, Blair indicated (Montreal Gazette) sity of building other structures on farmland police had possession of a video that media to support marijuana growing, and possible reports alleged showed Rob Ford smoking Feb 24 2014 crack cocaine. conflicts with nearby residential areas. A second inquest into police use of The police board has concluded the actions Under looming changes to federal drug force has been announced just weeks “may constitute misconduct’’ and that’s why the law, all licences currently issued for the grow- after a jury in a coroner’s inquest ing of marijuana for medicinal purposes within director has been asked to investigate them. (Newstalk 1010) ruled that three fatal shootings of private residences will expire March 31. mentally ill people by Toronto police After that date, marijuana can only be Feb 24 2014 were homicides. legally grown by commercial operators who In a release, the Office of the Independent have been federally licensed. Individual mu- The Nishnawbe-Aski Police want to Police Review Director (OIPRD) said it will nicipalities have the authority to say where demystify gang life to young people in be examining how the force deals with emo- the operations can be located. its communities. tionally disturbed people and individuals in The Falcon Ridge Farm owners said Police say gangs are taking root and crisis situations, and will also look into police they’ve been working toward getting a growing in native communities across the training in de-escalation techniques. commercial licence to grow marijuana for north. A criminal intelligence analyst with “Recent high-profile cases of Toronto two years. the police service said young people who are Police Service’s use of force have raised con- “We applied for the commercial licence having trouble in school, and at home, are cerns among Toronto citizens and affected for medical marijuana as it would be a good vulnerable to gang recruiters. public confidence in policing,” OIPRD direc- additional organic produce for the health The recruiters portray gang life as secure tor Gerry McNeilly said in a release. products we already grow, produce and offer and glamorous but, in reality, that way of life “In addition, my office has received pub- for sale on our farm,’’ they said. is brutal, Jennifer Duncan said. lic complaints that are significant enough, in

9 my opinion, to warrant a systemic review. is also underway. The SIU says the man repeatedly ignored I believe it is in the public interest for the RCMP spokeswoman Helen Cleary-Es- orders to drop his weapon and although one OIPRD, as an impartial civilian oversight cott said Tuesday that she could not offer any of the officers deployed a conducted energy agency, to undertake this review.” specific details about the allegations. weapon, it was too far away to have any effect. The OIPRD will be able to summon wit- “The matter is currently before the courts Two of the officers fired, striking the man nesses and access police documents as part and once they are before the courts we can’t six times, and he died in hospital three days of its review. speak to it.’’ later of “complications from multiple gunshot Earlier this month, a coroner’s inquest Cleary-Escott said the RCMP waited un- wounds.’’ deemed three Toronto police shootings were til Tuesday to issue a news release because (The Canadian Press) homicides. The verdict means police shot and a summons officially notifying Greene of the killed the people, but there will be no crimi- charges was not served until Monday night. Feb 25 2014 nal implications. She said no convictions or other proceed- LA RONGE, Sask. - A public inquest In that probe the jury recommended more ings are affected by the charges against Greene. has been called into the death of a emphasis on verbal de-escalation techniques Const. Pierre Bourdages of the Halifax man in RCMP custody. and recommended officers take into account Regional Police confirmed the force investi- The Saskatchewan government says a whether a person is in crisis and refrain from gated the matter and laid two charges. But he week-long inquest into the death of Walter shooting for as long as possible. also said he could not provide specific details Clinton McKenzie is to start Monday at the The inquest examined the deaths of Reyal about the allegations, deferring those ques- La Ronge courthouse. Jardine-Douglas, Sylvia Klibingaitis and Mi- tions to the RCMP. McKenzie was found unresponsive in his chael Eligon, who were all gunned down after cell at the La Ronge RCMP detachment on approaching police with knives or scissors. Feb 25 2014 Sept. 7, 2010. (City News) LANGLEY, B.C. - Copper theft is not a The 32-year-old was taken to the Royal new problem in Metro Vancouver, but University Hospital in Saskatoon, where he Tuesday officials admit they are stunned by the died the following day. february 25, 2014 damage caused during a recent heist An inquest is required by law when some- in Langley, B.C. one dies while in custody, unless the coroner Langley RCMP say two live power poles is satisfied that the death was due to natural

Feb 25 2014 were chopped down and three attached elec- causes and was not preventable. trical transformers were opened during one The coroner’s jury at the inquest may make WINNIPEG - A Winnipeg police officer such theft on Feb. 16. recommendations to prevent similar deaths. accused of assaulting a prisoner in a Mounties say B.C. Hydro technicians (The Canadian Press) holding room has been cleared. confirm the contents of the transformers were A Queen’s Bench judge found Const. Ryan stolen, along with all the connecting cables, Feb 25 2014 Law not guilty of aggravated assault on Monday. causing damage estimated at over $75,000. SASKATOON - A Saskatoon police of- Law was accused of beating Henry La- They say not only was the theft exceed- ficer accused of punching and pepper- vallee and kicking him in the stomach in ingly dangerous, it put innocent members spraying a teen while the youth was November 2008 following the man’s arrest of the public at extreme risk because they held down on the ground is to hear the on a number of charges. could have accidently contacted the live verdict next month. Lavallee needed emergency surgery to electrical wires. Const. Luke St. Onge is charged with as- repair two tears in his bowel. Police hope someone saw the thieves sault causing bodily harm and assault with a Law testified at his trial that he didn’t bringing down the poles or stripping the weapon. harm Lavallee in any way. transformers. Defence lawyer Aaron Fox said in clos- Justice Joan McKelvey ruled the officer’s ing arguments that the officer’s actions were testimony was credible. Feb 25 2014 (CJOB, The Canadian Press) within bounds to make the boy stop strug- MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Ontario’s police gling, to allow police to check him for weap-

Feb 25 2014 watchdog has cleared two OPP offi- ons and to handcuff him. cers in connection with the shooting Crown prosecutor William Burge said ST. JOHN’S, N.L. - An RCMP officer death of a 45-year-old man last sum- St. Onge was out of line in dealing with the has been suspended with pay after he mer in an incident northwest of Kings- 130-pound youth. was charged earlier this month with ton, Ont. Testimony from the teen and the officers perjury and obstruction of justice. The Special Investigations Unit says differed on how many times the boy was The Mounties say Const. Shawn Greene there are no reasonable grounds to charge punched in the face before he was pepper- was charged Feb. 10 after Halifax Regional either of the two Lanark County detachment sprayed, but Burge said it should never have Police conducted an independent investiga- officers with a criminal offence in relation to happened at all. tion into a complaint made in May 2013. the man’s death in July 2013. He said even though the boy wasn’t hand- A statement issued by the RCMP does not The SIU says four officers were sent to a cuffed, he was being pinned down by four offer details about the alleged offences, ex- home in a rural area of Central Frontenac to constables and was no longer a threat. cept to say that the investigation looked into deal with reports of a suicidal man who had “This was a significant factor that Mr. St. Greene’s work while he was stationed at its threatened he would burn himself to death. Onge either ignored or didn’t consider in his detachment in Harbour Grace, N.L. The agency says the officers called out haste,’’ Burge said Tuesday. Greene was transferred to Nova Scotia’s the man’s name as they approached his trailer Fox said the officers were concerned that Richmond County in February 2012. and the man burst out the front door naked, the boy had his left arm underneath him de- He is scheduled to appear in provincial then ran screaming to a picnic table where he spite another officer trying to pry it free. court in Harbour Grace on April 9. picked up a scoped rifle and pointed it at the “This is a case where there was a weapon The Mounties say an internal investigation officers. involved in the incident being investigated, and 10 a reasonable belief that the suspect was armed The Mounties say the charges are related Coroners service spokeswoman Barb with bear mace and maybe more,’’ Fox said. to incidents alleged to have occurred between McLintock said the agency decided to hold Provincial court Judge Dan O’Hanlon is July 2013 and January of this year. an inquest in large part because the incident expected to deliver his verdict in late March. Police say further charges are anticipated that led to Jimenez’s death occurred while she In testimony Monday, the teen, who was in the case. was in custody. 14 at the time, told the court that he had left (The Canadian Press) “In those cases, the chances are very high his group home on May 27, 2012, when he that we will, for the sake of transparency, hold saw some police officers and started to run. Feb 25 2014 an inquest,’’ McLintock said in an interview. At the time, the officers were searching FREDERICTON - Fredericton police “She was not free to go, so we have an for someone who was suspected of firing bear say two men arrested following a near- extra responsibility to take care of her.’’ spray at St. Onge. ly three-hour standoff on Monday have A coroner’s jury is scheduled to hear Const. Chad Nolan told court that after appeared in court. evidence beginning Sept. 29. The jurors will he tackled the fleeing teen and pinned him Police say 26-year-old Tyson Paul Col- then make recommendations to prevent simi- face down on the ground, St. Onge struck the ford of Moncton and 24-year-old Kyle Al- lar deaths but, under the rules that govern the youth once in the head. exander Cameron of Saint John were each coroner’s office, they cannot make findings of Another officer, Const. Joseph Taylor, charged with robbery during a court appear- fault or legal blame. testified he saw St. Onge make several punch- ance on Tuesday. According to the advocacy group No ing motions towards the boy’s head, but Police allege a lone man carrying a weap- One Is Illegal, Jimenez was a migrant who couldn’t see if any of the blows connected. on entered a pharmacy on Prospect Street in had been working at a Vancouver hotel when The teen testified that he was punched in Fredericton and later fled in a black SUV with she was arrested in December over an unpaid the face between 10 and 15 times. undisclosed items. transit ticket. Taylor said the teen was also pepper- No one was hurt in the robbery. She was transferred to jail and then sent sprayed. Police say the suspects were later found to the CBSA holding cells to await deporta- Police determined the teen was not carry- at a hotel in the city. tion, the group said. ing any weapons and he wasn’t charged with They surrendered without incident after Josh Paterson, executive director of the firing bear spray at St. Onge. talks with police crisis negotiators. B.C. Civil Liberties, said he was pleased He was taken to hospital, where he was the B.C. Coroners Service called an inquest checked out before being sent to the police Feb 25 2014 to examine the specific circumstances of holding cells that night. He suffered bruising HALIFAX - A 21-year-old Halifax area Jimenez’s death. to the left side of his face that caused his eye man won’t be going to prison for rap- Still, Paterson said the inquest won’t go to swell shut for between one and two weeks. ing a female jogger at a park in 2011. far enough, and he still wants a public inquiry St. Onge has been suspended with pay Cody Charles Lemoine, of Dartmouth, that could examine not only why Jimenez pending the outcome of the trial. pleaded guilty last fall to charges of sexual died, but what happened after. (CKOM) assault and forcible confinement. “There are other questions that a corner’s He was sentenced Tuesday by Judge Ted inquest is not going to answer, namely: Why Feb 25 2014 Tax who said the crime warranted a sentence did it take so long for the CBSA to reveal COLD LAKE, Alta. - A 50-year-old man of 4 1/2 years in prison. to the public that she had died in their care? has turned himself into police more However, he gave Lemoine 35 1/2 months’ Why was it that it took a month for this infor- than two years after a fatal hit and run credit for his time on remand, leaving him with mation to trickle out?’’ in northern Alberta. a sentence of 18 1/2 months in jail. A spokeswoman for the border agency Gary Lee Curtis Lachance was 27 when he After Lemoine serves his time at the Cen- declined to comment on the case in detail, was hit by a vehicle in the parking lot of Ca- tral Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dart- but wrote in an emailed response that the sino Dene near Cold Lake in December 2011. mouth, he will be on probation for two years. Canada Border Services Agency “welcomes Lachance, who was from Frog Lake, A 19-year-old woman was attacked at the opportunity to provide information and Alta., was airlifted to an Edmonton hospital Shubie Park in June 2011. clarity on CBSA policies and procedures where he died of head injuries. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald) around detention.’’ A police investigation did not lead to any “What we can tell you is that the CBSA is suspects. Feb 25 2014 committed to ensuring the health and safety RCMP say Wayne Kytwayhat turned VANCOUVER - A coroner’s jury will of those in our care, and we will carefully himself in at the detachment in Leduc, just examine what happened when a Mexi- review any recommendations that may result south of Edmonton, on Saturday. can woman died after hanging herself from this inquiry,’’ wrote Faith St. John. He has been charged with failing to re- while in custody of border agents at St. John added that the agency has al- main at the scene of an accident and is to ap- Vancouver’s airport, the B.C. Coro- ready launched its own review of its deten- pear in court in St. Paul on Thursday. ners Service announced Tuesday. tion operations. (The Canadian Press) Lucia Vega Jimenez, 42, was found in a Paterson said he also wants to know more shower stall in a holding cell at the airport on about the role of a private security company, Feb 25 2014 Dec. 20, and she died in hospital on Dec. 28, Genesis Security Group, which has a contract MONCTON, N.B. - RCMP say a Monc- though the case didn’t come to light until de- to work at the agency’s detention centre at the ton, N.B. woman faces 45 counts of tails surfaced in media reports in late January. airport. fraud in connection with more than a Jimenez’s suicide raised questions about “They’ve got a lot of involvement, but we half dozen cases. how the Canada Border Services Agency understand very little about the kind of train- Twenty-nine-year-old Krisjana Buck appeared handled the woman’s case, and several advo- ing that they have,’’ said Paterson. in Moncton Provincial Court today. cacy groups have called for an independent “What we have here is law-enforcement Police say Buck waived her bail hearing investigation, ranging from a coroner’s in- functions, like the guarding of detainees, being and is being held until March 11. quest to a full-scale public inquiry. contracted out, and we have a great concerned 11 about the standards in that context.’’ the man several times to drop the knife. Other other than that there was no reasonable expecta- Ashley Meehan, vice-president of Gene- officers also yelled at Vukmanich to stop. tion of a successful prosecution. sis Security, declined to comment on the spe- At some point, Vukmanich dropped the The two men were charged with being cifics of the case, citing his company’s con- weapon and Williamson ran over and picked accessories after 38-year-old Thomas Ted tract with Canada Border Services Agency. up his dog. Barrett and 23-year-old Morgan James Mac- “In general, we assist with running secu- “Quanto’s legs began to fail and then his Neil, both of Glace Bay, were charged with rity for the holding centre and doing some of head fell,’’ said Crown prosecutor Christian second-degree murder in connection with the transports with detainees,’’ he said in an Lim. “The officer carried the dog back to the Jessome’s death. interview. truck with blood streaming out from it all Jessome’s remains were found inside a “We will be working with CBSA and the over the officer.’’ hockey bag along a bank of the Mira River in B.C. Coroners Service to assist in any way Williamson rushed the dog to a veterinar- Marion Bridge. possible.’’ ian, but it was too late. (Cape Breton Post) In addition to jail, lawyers agreed Vuk- Feb 25 2014 manich should be banned from owning a pet Feb 25 2014 EDMONTON - Const. Matt Williamson for at least 25 years and be prohibited from SYDNEY, N.S. - Cape Breton Regional used to tell his young children that he driving for five. He had previously received a Police have reached an agreement with gave bad guys time outs in jail while lifetime ban from possessing weapons. the Cape Breton District Health Author- their dog, Quanto, helped by barking. Lim also asked Vukmanich be ordered to ity to recover costs associated with the pay $40,000 to the police force to cover the time police are required to spend with cost of a new police dog and its training. patients awaiting hospital care. Judge Larry Anderson said he would con- Chief Peter McIsaac informed members sider the request, although he said it sounded of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s to him more like a civil claim. police commission of the agreement at a He also said he wasn’t sure a 26-month meeting Tuesday. sentence is long enough, since Vukmanich He says it had been an issue for upwards has a criminal record that includes two prior of a decade and should save the police service convictions for evading police. about $100,000 a year. “I am troubled, frankly,’’ said Anderson. McIsaac says if the health authority is un- “I want to think it through carefully.’’ able to provide adequate security and police But when the Edmonton police dog was Officers complained after Quanto died are required to stay beyond the time they are stabbed to death last fall, Williamson’s six- that the strongest criminal charge that could mandated, the police service will invoice the year-old daughter started to ponder the real be laid was cruelty to an animal. health authority to recover those costs. dangers of the work. The federal government said in its fall He says the arrangement has been in Crying, she went to her dad one day with throne speech that it plans to bring forward place for a week. a question. “Quanto’s Law’’ to protect police animals, (Cape Breton Post) “’If Quanto’s job was to protect you from but didn’t specify what that might entail. bad guys ... is a bad guy going to kill you?’’’ Williamson was in Ottawa when the an- Feb 25 2014 Williamson recalled in a victim impact state- nouncement was made. Police officers in a Central California ment read in court. He wrote in his court statement that town took part in a scheme in which “She now never lets me leave for work Quanto was like a pet to the Williamson fami- cars belonging to poor Hispanic without a hug.’’ ly, but knew his primary role was as protector. people were impounded, towed and The man who killed the dog, Paul Vuk- “I always knew if it was him or me, it later sold or given away for free to manich, pleaded guilty Tuesday to six charges, would be him,’’ Williamson said. some officers when the car owners including animal cruelty and flight from police. “Quanto died well and proved his fear- couldn’t pay the fees, authorities Crown and defence lawyers both recom- lessness.’’ said Tuesday. mended he get 26 months in jail. A judge is to Williamson said he is to start training a Four officers - including the recently re- sentence him Friday. new dog soon and will rejoin the canine unit tired police chief and the acting chief - have Court heard the 27-year-old was on pa- in the spring. been arrested, and two other officers were role and high on cocaine and methamphet- also arrested Tuesday on unrelated charges, amine when he got caught driving a car with Feb 25 2014 Monterey County District Attorney Dean stolen plates on Oct. 7. When police tried to SYDNEY, N.S. - A charge of being an Flippo said. pull him over, he sped over a median and accessory after the fact to murder has “There has been a significant breakdown several curbs, sent sparks flying and blew out been dismissed against a 39-year-old in the internal leadership of the King City three tires. Glace Bay, N.S. man. Police Department,’’ Flippo said. “It also ap- He abandoned the car in a parking lot, Brian Augustine Deruelle was one of two pears to me that some officers have dishon- then took off on foot. people charged with being an accessory in re- oured their badge.’’ Williamson warned him to stop or he’d lation to the May 2012 death of 21-year-old The six officers account for more than a send his German shepherd out. Vukmanich Laura Catherine Jessome. third of the 17-member force in King City, slowed down but refused to get on the ground. The second accused, 37-year-old Rob- an agricultural town of 13,000 people about Instead, he backed away in a fighting stance. ert Edwin Matheson, also of Glace Bay, is 150 miles (240 kilometres) southeast of San Quanto was set loose and bit Vukmanich scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on Francisco. on the left arm and hand. Court was told Vuk- the charge beginning Oct. 27. Early Tuesday morning, teams from the manich pulled out a knife and started stab- The charge against Deruelle was withdrawn Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, bing the dog in the chest. during a Supreme Court appearance Monday in the Salinas Police Department and the county Williamson pulled his pistol and ordered Sydney with the Crown offering no explanation district attorney’s bureau of investigation ar- 12 rested the officers after a months-long inves- hockey bag near the Mira River in Marion The defence argues teenager Lianne Price tigation, which began as a response to com- Bridge. didn’t have a leash with her when she tried plaints of corruption and criminal acts within The Crown says the charge was dropped to retrieve Bentley, who wasn’t responding to the department, Flippo said. because that there was no reasonable expec- her commands. Authorities said that, in some cases, of- tation of a successful prosecution. The Crown says Krawchuk knew from ficers simply kept the cars for their own use. The second accused, 37-year-old Robert the moment he heard commotion outside The four officers tied to the alleged car Edwin Matheson of Glace Bay, is scheduled about a dog on his land that he planned on theft scheme have each been charged with to have a preliminary hearing on the charge killing the dog. bribery, accepting a bribe or embezzlement. beginning October 27th. Krawchuk has admitted to loading the The operator of a towing company who Thomas Ted Barrett and Morgan James rifle before knowing what the dog was doing, is also the brother of the acting chief has also MacNeil, both of Glace Bay, were charged and the trial has heard there was bad blood been arrested in the case. with second-degree murder in connection between the families. The front office of the King City police with Jessome’s death. While the defence argues Krawchuk only station house was closed Tuesday afternoon. (Cape Breton Post) shot once Bentley was clear from anyone else King City Manager Michael Powers told in the pasture, the Crown contends the farmer The Associated Press that Monterey County Feb 26 2014 was tracking the dog with his rifle, meaning sheriffs and officers from the nearby cities of SASKATOON - Water damage that oc- the weapon was momentarily aimed at the Gonzales and Soledad have volunteered to curred during a check for air leaks teenager as the dog ran in front of her. help the city with police duties now that so has delayed the final phases of work The judge has reserved his decision on many of its officers have been taken off duty. on the new $122 million police head- the case until March 20. “Obviously, people are in shock, and so is quarters in Saskatoon. (CKOM) the city staff,’’ Powers said. “But at the same Global News says the builder, EllisDon, time, we can’t tolerate corruption in the po- confirms that problems occurred last Friday Feb 26 2014 lice department.’’ when pipes in the rooftop froze, causing INNISFAIL, Alta. - The RCMP is looking fan coils to burst after cold outside air was for signs of culprits after more than pumped into the building to pressurize it for 30 vintage signs worth about $40,000 wednesday a thermal scan. were taken during an antiques heist in february 26, 2014 Jason Sheldrick, EllisDon’s area man- southern Alberta. ager and vice-president, says more than 20 The items were to be auctioned off last

Feb 26 2014 areas of the building were affected, prompt- Sunday at a community hall in Innisfail, north ing checks of electrical fixtures, insulation of Calgary, and had been put on display the HALIFAX - A man diagnosed with and some fire alarm devices to determine if day before. schizophrenia has been sentenced to they were harmed. Police think the power meter was discon- 18 months in jail for sexually assault- There’s no word on the damage esti- nected to disable the alarm system before the ing a 19-year-old woman in a Halifax- mate, but EllisDon is filing a claim with its signs were swiped hours before organizers ar- area park. insurance company. rived to get ready for the event. Cody Charles Lemoine of Dartmouth City Coun. Darren Hill, who also sits There are no signs of forced entry to pleaded guilty last fall to charges of sexual on the board of police commissioners, says the hall and only the most valuable signs assault and forcible confinement. there are no financial implications for tax- were taken. Court heard that in June 2011 Lemoine payers but police may have to remain in The merchandise was being sold on be- spotted the woman jogging in Shubie Park their current building for an extra month. half of its Manitoba owner and Mounties be- and dragged her into the woods. The project is already behind schedule, lieve the items were taken for resale. Lemoine turned himself in to police two as police were to have moved into their new Sherry Moore with Old Creamery An- days later. headquarters last fall. tiques says the theft was disheartening for Judge Ted Tax said the crime warranted (Global Sask) collectors who had come to the event looking a four-year sentence, but he reduced that for a lot of variety. yesterday to 18 months because Lemoine Feb 26 2014 (Global Calgary) has already spent two years in custody at the SASKATOON - The defence says a East Coast Forensic Hospital in Dartmouth. man facing gun-related charges in Feb 26 2014 During that time, the 21-year-old was di- the shooting death of a neighbour’s LANTZVILLE, B.C. - A body has been agnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. (Halifax Chronicle Herald) pet dog had the right to protect his found in what remains of a burned-out farm animals from the 11-month-old home north of Nanaimo, B.C.

Feb 26 2014 St. Bernard. Volunteer firefighters in Lantzville dis- But the Crown says Eugene Krawchuk covered the body after dousing the blaze SYDNEY, N.S. - A Cape Breton man ac- put the owner of the dog, a 16-year-old girl, early Tuesday evening. cused of being an accessory to mur- in danger when he raised his gun and fired as They say the blaze began in the garage der has been cleared of the charge. she pleaded for him not to kill her pet. at around 6:30 p.m., and spread to the house. The charge against Brian Augustine De- Closing arguments were made Wednes- No else was in the home at the time. ruelle of Glace Bay was withdrawn during a day in the trial of Krawchuk, who is charged Members of Nanaimo RCMP’s serious Supreme Court appearance in Sydney. with unlawfully killing the dog and careless crime unit have taken over the investigation Deruelle was one of two people charged use of a firearm, among other charges. while the victim is identified and family are with being an accessory after the fact to Krawchuk, 59, says the dog named contacted. murder following the May 2012 death of Bentley had crossed over onto his property A cause of the fire is being investigated. 21-year-old Laura Catherine Jessome. last spring and was chasing and harassing Jessome’s remains were found inside a his animals. 13 Feb 26 2014 have alleged Lisi would use counter-surveil- her neck and threatened to gouge her, after TORONTO - An anesthesiologist con- lance techniques on them. which he grabbed a machete, forced her to victed of sexually assaulting sedated her knees and placed the weapon across her women during surgeries will have to Feb 26 2014 neck. spend at least a few nights in cus- GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB - RCMP in On another occasion, he said Cooper at- tody as a judge decides whether he northern Alberta say they will be tacked the woman’s eight-month-old puppy should get bail pending an appeal. charging three people in the abduction when he became enraged while breaking in of a baby left inside an idling truck. to a number of cottages. Police issued an Amber Alert for the MacPherson said Cooper also bit her on child when the pickup was stolen Tuesday the neck in another fit of rage. from outside a home in Grande Prairie. Court heard the offences occurred in Oc- The seven-month-old girl named Addi- tober and November of 2012 in Sydney and son was discovered a few hours later in her Big Pond. car seat on the porch of a rural home south Judge Peter Ross said there was no of the city. doubt that Cooper was guilty and that killing Police say a person in the house found the dog was a message to his girlfriend of the infant, who appeared to be unharmed. what he was capable of doing if she didn’t Doctor George Doodnaught is appealing A man and woman from Grande Prairie follow his commands. his 21 convictions for sexual assault, and and a 14-year-old from Edmonton also face (Cape Breton Post) wants to be released on bail until that appeal other charges, including child abandonment can be heard. and theft of a motor vehicle. Feb 27 2014 His lawyer, Brian Greenspan, says the The youth is also charged with failing to VANCOUVER - Immigration officials appeal likely won’t be heard until the sum- comply with a probation order. have reserved their decision in the mer or fall of 2015, and since Doodnaught’s Their names have not been released. case of a British man who once led a medical licence is suspended there’s no risk banned Sikh separatist group and is he’ll reoffend. Feb 26 2014 facing deportation from Canada. Doodnaught was on bail throughout his VERNON, B.C. - An American cross- trial and Greenspan told a Court of Appeal country ski coach accused of voyeur- judge today that he “religiously’’ complied ism and making child porn stemming with those conditions. from a hidden video camera at a ski The Crown opposes bail, saying resort in Vernon, B.C., has pleaded not Doodnaught should start serving his 10-year guilty to 10 charges. sentence now. Jason Paur appeared in provincial court The Crown says that even though via video link. Doodnaught has no prior criminal record, He has been in custody since December these convictions show he is a serial sexual and was denied bail last week because he is Seventy-one-year-old Gurmej Singh offender. The judge is expected to decide in considered a flight risk. Gill was returning to British Columbia on a a few days. The teacher from a private school in Se- family matter last November when he was (The Canadian Press) attle was arrested after a video camera was stopped by border officials at Vancouver air- discovered in the room of female students at port. Feb 26 2014 Silver Star ski resort. He was ordered to appear before the Im- TORONTO - Toronto Police Chief Bill The charges against Parr include break migration and Refugee Board. Blair says he is “deeply offended’’ by and enter and making or publishing child Gill told a hearing in Vancouver yester- remarks Mayor Rob Ford made about pornography. day that he led Babbar Khalsa in England him in a videotaped profane rant. A date for a three-day trial is expected to but wanted it to abide by British law. Ford has admitted he had been drinking be set next week. The group has been linked to the 1985 when he launched into a rant in Jamaican pa- (CKIZ) Air India bombings that killed 331 people tois that was surreptitiously filmed at a To- and was added to a list of banned terror ronto restaurant. thursday groups in Canada in 2003. The video in which Ford swears and ref- february 27, 2014 But Gill’s lawyer, Sukhjinder Grewal, erences Blair and counter surveillance sur- says the names Babbar Khalsa International faced online weeks after Ford said he had and Babbar Khalsa are used interchange- given up alcohol. Feb 27 2014 ably, and the group Gill once led in England Blair tells television station CP24 that SYDNEY, N.S. - A two-year prison is a different entity. it was “disgusting’’ to hear the mayor at the term has been handed to a Cape Bret- Gill’s son, Navdej Singh Gill, lives in beginning of the rant call him a “pretty filthy on man who beat his former girlfriend B-C and has also testified his father was only obscenity.’’ and kicked her puppy to death. ever involved in peaceful protests, lobbying, The mayor has been under police inves- Brian David Cooper pleaded guilty to and meeting with politicians. tigation since the Toronto Star and the U.S. two counts of assault with a weapon, two website Gawker reported on a video appearing counts of assault and one count each of un- Feb 27 2014 to show Ford smoking crack cocaine. lawful confinement, uttering a death threat EDMONTON - Edmonton police say Ford’s friend Alexander Lisi was charged and animal cruelty. they’re concerned about the volume in that investigation with drug offences - he Prosecutor Darcy MacPherson says the of the date-rape drug known as GHB was later also charged with extortion in rela- woman told police how the 31-year-old Syd- they’re encountering and how it’s be- tion to the so-called crack video - and police ney man once held a wire coat hanger to ing stored. 14 Det. Guy Pilon says the police seizures concluding that the plaintiffs failed to estab- police had not properly informed her of her so far this year have been astronomical, with lish an identifiable class. rights, including the right to have a lawyer officers coming across 206 litres of the co- Menon worked as a pathologist at the present when she gave the statements. lourless and potent drug - enough for up to Miramichi Regional Hospital between 1995 The Ontario Court of Appeal disagreed, 70,000 doses. and 2007 until an audit of his work found 18 saying the trial judge had properly consid- Pilon says that volume would not have per cent of 227 breast and prostate cancer ered the issue and found the teen had waived been seen on city streets five years ago, but reports were incomplete. the rights in question. it’s made a resurgence over the past two The review also concluded that three per “Interpreting what occurred between years. cent of those tests were incorrect. the appellant and the police officers and, Four Edmonton residents are facing A later review of 23,000 tests done by importantly, whether the appellant under- charges after the latest bust last Thursday Menon found a complete or partial change stood her rights was a matter for the trial when police discovered about five litres of in the results in about a quarter of the cases. judge, absent a palpable and overriding er- GHB stored in large soft drink bottles. A public inquiry in 2007 concluded that ror,’’ Justice Marc Rosenberg wrote on be- Sgt. Grant Best, a spokesman for the Ed- the hospital had hired Menon in a rush and half of the panel. monton Combined Forces Special Enforce- without proper background checks on his “I have not been persuaded that there ment Unit, says a child or possibly an adult level of competency. was any such error.’’ could have died if they had taken a drink (The Canadian Press) Todorovic, now 22, of Toronto, was con- from the bottles without knowing what was victed in 2009 for masterminding the murder in them. Feb 27 2014 of Rengel - a girl she had never met but con- Police Chief Rod Knecht calls the GHB TORONTO - Ontario police chief considered a rival. spike troublesome, noting that police inves- firmed that hard drives from govern- Evidence was that the then-15-year-old tigated 330 sexual assault cases last year but ment computers were seized as part Todorovic had goaded her boyfriend, David have been called in on 334 this year. of a search of an unnamed facility last Bagshaw, 17, into killing Rengel, someone (CHED, CTV Edmonton, Global Edmonton) week. he had briefly dated two years earlier. Bagshaw, also convicted of first-degree Feb 27 2014 murder, stabbed Rengel six times and left HALIFAX - A man sentenced to life in her to die in a snowbank on New Year’s prison for fatally stabbing a 19-year- Day 2008. old Nova Scotia woman is planning to Shortly after the killing, Todorovic told appeal his conviction. police that the murder was more her idea Crown attorney Patrick Young says than Bagshaw’s, but that she did not believe Christopher Alexander Falconer has filed a he would take her seriously. prisoner appeal, but Young says he doesn’t She also admitted knowing Bagshaw know the grounds for the action. OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis says it was headed to Rengel’s house that night to Falconer was given an automatic sen- was part of the criminal investigation into kill her and that she called him 15 minutes tence of life in prison with no parole eligi- the deletion of emails on two cancelled gas after the murder to ask: “Is she dead?’’ bility for 25 years after he was convicted in plants in Oakville and Mississauga. Todorovic also told police that she had January of killing Amber Kirwan. But he says he can’t say whether a crimi- asked Bagshaw to come over to her house to When she was last seen alive, Kirwan nal act occurred or whether any charges will show how he had killed the girl. was leaving a pool hall in New Glasgow on be laid. Those statements, her lawyer had ar- October 9th, 2011. The police also visited Premier Kathleen gued, contributed to a miscarriage of justice. A month later, Kirwan’s naked, bound Wynne’s office last November, which Lewis For its part, the Crown had argued remains were discovered in a shallow grave says was with her staff’s full co-operation. any rights breach was minor and the evi- beside a logging road in nearby Heathbell. Police launched a criminal probe last dence against Todorovic - including reams The province’s chief medical examiner June after the Conservatives complained of messages between her and Bagshaw in told the court that Kirwan bled to death af- that gas plant emails were intentionally de- which she threatens to break up with him ter being stabbed at least 10 times, including leted by senior staff in former premier Dal- or withhold sex until he killed Rengel -was once through her heart. ton McGuinty’s office. overwhelming. (The Canadian Press) The Tories say the police raid shows the Todorovic was sentenced as an adult to Liberals are corrupt. life in prison with no chance of parole for Feb 27 2014 (The Canadian Press) seven years - the maximum adult sentence FREDERICTON - The New Bruns- for someone her age. wick Court of Appeal has ruled that a Feb 27 2014 The Appeal Court, which heard the case class-action lawsuit against a pathol- TORONTO - A teenager who sexually in November, also dismissed her arguments ogist and a former regional health au- blackmailed her boyfriend into killing she should have been sentenced as a youth. thority over pathology errors should a 14-year-old girl she perceived as a Todorovic showed no empathy for Ren- proceed. rival lost her appeal against both her gel and harboured ongoing thoughts of hurt- In the decision, the appeal court ruled first-degree murder conviction and ing others,” the Appeal Court noted. that a lower court decision denying the law- sentence Thursday. Bagshaw is also serving an adult life suit is out of step with the Supreme Court Melissa Todorovic had argued self- sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree of Canada’s interpretation of certification incriminating videotaped statements she murder. legislation. gave to police after the death of Stefanie In March 2012, the Court of Queen’s Rengel should not have been allowed as Feb 27 2014 Bench dismissed the class-action suit sought trial evidence. WINNIPEG - There will be no legal by three patients of Dr. Rajgopal Menon, Among other things, Todorovic argued sanctions against a Winnipeg police 15 officer who was found by a judge to old child at an unlicensed home daycare in Route 2 of the Trans-Canada Highway west have committed multiple breaches of Markham. of Moncton, N.B. the Charter of Rights and Freedoms The 26-year-old Saint Mary’s University Feb 27 2014 during a rape investigation. student was last seen on the morning of Feb. Provincial justice officials say they TORONTO - A man is facing 31 break- 13 in the Cowie Hill Road area of the city. won’t seek a criminal review of Det. Richard and-enter charges after Toronto po- Members of Saunders’s family travelled Arndt, who was slammed last month in the lice say numerous upscale homes provincial court ruling for his misstatements were broken into by a thief who to Halifax to make public appeals for help in applying for a search warrant. climbed walls and entered through in finding the young Inuit woman, who was The ruling resulted in the warrant being high windows and skylights. originally from Labrador. tossed and left the Crown with no evidence The investigation - dubbed Project Spi- Delilah Terriak has said her sister was against Marcus Baird, who had been ac- derman - was launched after police say a set to graduate from university in May and cused of assaulting two women in their Win- number of high-end homes throughout the was doing her thesis on missing and mur- nipeg homes. Toronto area were broken into between Oc- dered aboriginal women. Judge Robert Heinrichs found Arndt de- tober 2010 and January this year. liberately withheld certain information and It’s alleged that millions of dollars worth Feb 27 2014 exaggerated other details to persuade a mag- of property was stolen during the break-ins, OTTAWA - The Harper government is istrate to issue the warrant that was vital in including jewelry and watches. the investigation. Police say their investigation revealed taking steps to crack down on sexual Heinrichs said the result made the police an array of sophisticated equipment was predators. case look much stronger than it was. used to break into the homes, such as flex- The Crown will also not appeal the ible spy cams, parabolic listening devices judge’s ruling. and precious-metal testers. (Winnipeg Free Press) It’s alleged the man often scaled the ex- teriors and entered the homes through sky- Feb 27 2014 lights and second-storey windows in order ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - Police in Ab- to avoid alarm systems. botsford, B.C., are crediting cross- Police say Shane Gagnon (also known border teamwork in the arrests of two as Shane Louis Zwezdararyk), 43, of Brad- suspected drug smugglers. ford, Ont., was arrested on Jan. 31 following Const. Ian MacDonald says U.S. Bor- a chase. Justice Minister Peter MacKay says the der Patrol alerted officers east of Vancouver Investigators say hundreds of stolen government is tabling legislation to create about two suspicious men heading north items have been recovered since then, after a publicly accessible database of high-risk across the Canada-U.S. border at about 8:45 search warrants were executed in the To- child sex offenders. Wednesday night. ronto area. Among other things, he says the bill MacDonald says a police helicopter, dog More than 800 photos of the recovered would make anyone convicted of child sex team and several units rushed to the rural items have been posted on the Toronto po- crimes against multiple children serve their lice website and victims of break-ins are and remote section of southeastern Abbots- sentences consecutively, not concurrently. ford in the Fraser Valley. encouraged to check for property that may The legislation would also require regis- He says outstanding communication be- be theirs. tween Canadian and U.S. officers helped Ca- tered sex offenders tao provide more infor- nadian officials locate two men, aged 23 and Feb 27 2014 mation when they travel abroad and permit 49, while U.S. officers traced two backpacks HALIFAX - Halifax police have more sharing of information between federal south of the border. charged a man and woman with mur- agencies. About 20 kilograms of suspected meth- der in the death of Loretta Saunders, It would also increase sentences for cer- amphetamine was found in the packs. a university student whose body was tain child sex offences as well as penalties Two suspects remain in a Canadian jail found Wednesday on the side of a for violation of conditions of supervision awaiting a decision on what charges could highway in New Brunswick. orders. be laid and where the case should proceed. Testimony from a spouse would be avail-

Feb 27 2014 able to prosecutors in child pornography cases. TORONTO - The Ontario government has launched an investigation into The government promised in the Oc- the death of an infant at an unlicensed tober throne speech to get tougher on home daycare in Toronto. pedophiles. Education Minister Liz Sandals says both police and her ministry are probing the death of the four-month-old boy on Feb. 14. She says there’s no record of complaints about the facility. Twenty-eight-year-old Victoria Hen- Sandals says she’s not yet aware of the neberry and 25-year-old Blake Leggette cause of the boy’s death. face charges of first-degree murder and are There have been similar incidents that scheduled to appear in Halifax provincial have prompted the governing Liberals to pro- court Friday. pose changes to laws governing daycares. Henneberry and Leggette were charged The ministry is being sued by the family of a two-year-old girl who died last sum- earlier with stealing Saunders’s 2000 Toyota mer in another unlicensed daycare in York Celica, which was found Feb. 19 in Harrow, Region. Ont., south of Windsor. Police launched an investigation in Saunders remains were found at about November after the death of a nine-month- 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the median off 16