Nov 08, 2013 – Vol. 18 No. 45 ombudsman names former police chiefs

Oct 31 2013 as advisors WINNIPEG - Manitoba is propos- ing a new law giving police officers the power to seize alcohol from a booze can or kick a known gang member out of licensed bar or res- taurant even though no crime has been committed. Page 2

Nov 05 2013 MONTREAL - The former Quebec biker investigator charged with selling secrets to Hells Angels also offered his services to the Mafia., Page 4

Nov 05 2013 TORONTO - The chief of police wants $386,000 to put 184 Tasers in the hands of front-line officers Nov 05 2013 — increasing the controversial weapon’s use by one-third, despite TORONTO - Ontario Ombudsman Marin says the Ontario government some strong public opposition. Andre Marin has appointed former should issue binding de-escalation direc- Page 5 police chief and assisstant tives to police on dealing with aggressive RCMP commissioner Sen. Vern and emotionally distressed people. The Community Safety Ministry has the Nov 06 2013 White and former deputy and inter- im Toronto police chief Mike Boyd to power to do so and it’s time for it to act, Marin OTTAWA - The federal govern- said during a speech in Ottawa Tuesday. ment wants to create a publicly act as advisers for an investigation “Does it make any sense that a certain accessible database of Canadian into police conflict de-escalation. terrorism incidents. “We want to make sure that our rec- behaviour in Ottawa, in Toronto, in Lon- Page 6 ommendations are practical and reflect don, can lead to you being tasered, shot the reality of police work,’’ Marin said. or de-escalated, depending on which city Nov 07 2013 you’re in?’’ Marin said. OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled against a British Columbia man who was seeking to avoid a second trial in a marijuana grow-op case. Page 7 “Would it not make sense to have one, intelligent, uniform policy applied Thursday friday across the board?’’ october 31, 2013 november 01, 2013 British Columbia issued province- wide guidelines on the use of force after Oct 31 2013 Nov 01 2013 the tasering death of Polish immigrant EDMONTON - An investigative unit TORONTO - The city’s chief of police Robert Dziekanski. says a 39-year-old man who was consulted two lawyers before making Giving police better conflict de-esca- Tasered by Edmonton police has died his jaw-dropping announcement that lation tools would benefit both them and in hospital. investigators had obtained a video members of the public, Marin said. The Alberta Serious Incident Response that appears to show Mayor Rob Ford The Special Investigations Unit has Team, known as ASIRT, says an autopsy smoking crack cocaine, a spokesman made progress in recent years when it will be done on the man who died Wednes- said Friday. was “so steeped in police culture, that it day night. wasn’t doing its job,’’ Marin said. He was hospitalized in serious condition last week after an encounter with police. In the 1990s, the province did issue There have been few details about what regulations around high-speed pursuits af- happened. ter a series of deadly incidents that resulted ASIRT hasn’t said how many times in a significant reduction in the problem. the man was hit with a Taser, but media It has not taken any similar steps reports have quoted witnesses who said it since, Marin said. was three times. “The government of Ontario has to decide will it continue to sit on the side- Oct 31 2013 lines, or will it exercise its authority to WINNIPEG - Manitoba is proposing Ford’s lawyer has called for Chief Bill Blair to resign for what he called the public issue those rules,’’ he said. a new law giving police officers the power to seize alcohol from a booze convicting of the mayor at the news confer- Following the police killing of Sammy can or kick a known gang member ence on Thursday. Yatim, 19, on a streetcar in Toronto in July, out of licensed bar or restaurant even But Blair’s spokesman said the chief Marin announced his office would inves- though no crime has been committed. wasn’t just speaking off the cuff. tigate how police react in such situations. “Chief Blair sought and took legal advice He said his office has since received from two very experienced and distinguished scores of complaints and submissions lawyers prior to the news conference,’’ around police shootings. spokesman Mark Pugash said Friday. A spokesman for Community Safety “No one should be surprised: these are extremely important matters and due dili- Minister said they would gence is something that has to be done.’’ co-operate with Marin’s investigation. Blair went to that length because he felt it “We take de-escalation and use of “absolutely appropriate and necessary,’’ Pu- force very seriously and we look forward gash added. to seeing what comes out of his work,’’ Ford’s lawyer Dennis Morris has de- Craig MacBride said. City of Winnipeg Minister Kevin Chief nounced Blair, who said, among other things, said Thursday the province is trying to bal- that police had recovered the video from a ance the rights of individuals as well as hard drive. keeping the community safe. Blair also confirmed it as the video pre- Police also say it will give them the viously reported as apparently showing the ISSN 1704-3913 edge in shutting down chronic party houses mayor smoking crack cocaine. Copyright 2013 and keeping gang members in check - re- “As a citizen of Toronto I’m disappoint- Blue Line Magazine Inc. & moving the onus that’s currently put on ed,’’ Blair told the media Thursday. Permission to reprint may be obtained in advance from Access Copyright frustrated neighbours or a restaurant owner “This is a traumatic issue for the citizens Phone 1-800-893-5777 [email protected] who fears reprisals if they ask a gang mem- of this city and for the reputation of this city ber to leave their premise. and that concerns me.’’ Published weekly by Blue Line Magazine, Inc. as an executive news briefing service to Canada’s top level law enforcement personnel. Winnipeg police Staff Sgt. Kelly Den- nison said the new law takes it up a notch Nov 01 2013 Most information supplied in this publication is from news- wire services. As such Blue Line Magazine does not ac- from what’s already on the books in Al- AMHERST - Deputy Chief Ian Naylor is cept responsibility for the accuracy of articles as supplied. berta. moving up the police ranks. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, Police in that province have had the Amherst town council announced Thurs- stored in an electronic database or transmitted in any form or by authority to remove gang members from day that Naylor will be the town’s new chief any means, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, with- out the prior permission of the publishers. One Year Subscriptions licensed establishments since 2010. of police. are $10500 (GST Included). Paid subscribers may make up to four Manitoba’s version will include known Naylor, who had served as acting chief (4) copies of this publication for distribution within their organization. violent criminals and allow police to re- since former chief Charles Rushton retired Group Publisher: Morley S. Lymburner move them if they believe there is a risk to last year, has been with the Amherst force PUBLISHER: Kathryn M. Lymburner - [email protected] NEWS EDITOR: Mark Reesor - [email protected] public safety. since 1988. Before that he served for a decade Subscriptions: Blue Line Store at www.BlueLine.ca The province expects to have a new act with the RCMP. ADVERTISING: 1-888-640-3048 12A-4981 Hwy. 7 East, Ste. 254, Markham ON L3R 1N1 in place by 2014. “I am pleased with the confidence that Phone: 905 640-3048 eMail: [email protected] (Winnipeg Free Press) council has placed in me and I’m looking 2 forward to working with staff and our com- A spokesman says all the names have Nov 04 2013 munity partners to ensure the Amherst Police been turned over to Interpol. TORONTO - The province’s police Department provides the policing services The sting involved setting up a pretend watchdog has been called in after a which meet the needs of our community,” 10-year-old girl named “Sweetie,’’ who man was shot in the upper torso in said Naylor on Friday of his appointment. signed on to various public chatrooms. northwest Toronto. (Chonicle Herald) The spokesman says they were surprised Paramedics say the man was rushed at how easy it was to get the men involved to to hospital in serious condition after the saturday identify themselves. shooting Monday afternoon at a highrise He also says webcam sex tourism involv- apartment. november 02, 2013 ing children appears to be an emerging mar- They say he is expected to survive. ket that police do not have a handle on. Const. Wendy Drummond says only Nov 02 2013 that police were called to the residence for MONTREAL - A Montreal judge has or- Nov 04 2013 a “get belongings’’ call when there was an dered the extradition of a murder sus- VANCOUVER - Four on-duty, uni- “altercation.’’ pect but not before blasting Saguenay formed Vancouver police officers She says the Special Investigations Unit police for bungling his arrest and al- eating supper were hurt when a has been called in. leged confession. BMW suddenly plowed into a res- (The Canadian Press, Newstalk1010) Montreal Superior Court Justice Guy taurant in Vancouver’s West End on Cournoyer ordered murder suspect Kyle Sunday night. Sheppard back to the U.S.A. to face charges Tuesday of killing his wife Katie Sheppard on Novem- november 05, 2013 ber 2, 2012. Sheppard’s lawyer, Toronto-based Dan- Nov 05 2013 iel Brodsky, plans to appeal the extradition, TORONTO - The brother of Toron- a process that will likely see Sheppard remain to’s embattled mayor is calling for in Canadian prison for at least another year. the city’s police chief to step down Sheppard, 31, who is a Canadian citizen, temporarily. drove to Saguenay following the death of his Coun. Doug Ford says the city’s police wife on November 2, 2012. services board should investigate Chief Bill Katie Sheppard, 29, had been found dead Blair’s handling of a video that allegedly on the porch of their Toledo home with a belt The front window of the Fatburger res- shows his brother, Mayor Rob Ford, appear- around her neck. taurant was smashed in about 8 p.m., leav- ing to smoke crack cocaine. Sheppard allegedly called police and con- ing the silver BMW sedan sitting partly in Doug Ford told several media outlets fessed to the killing. Police arrested Sheppard the restaurant. Tuesday that Blair should step down while on November 4 at 5 a.m. but failed to take No other restaurant patrons or staff the probe he’s calling for is held. notes or inform Sheppard that he had the right were injured. “In my opinion, this is the most political to a lawyer. “It’s something you don’t expect, work- police chief that I’ve ever run into,’’ he told In his extradition order, Cournoyer blast- ing your shift. You think the dangerous CP24. “He believes he’s the judge, jury and ed the two Saguenay police officers’ failure parts are over when you are sitting in a res- executioner and this has created a bias to- to inform the accused of his right to legal taurant having dinner. wards the mayor.’’ counsel, which he said showed a “blatant dis- Unfortunately these things happen,” The remarks by the mayor’s brother fol- regard for (Sheppard’s) rights.” said Const. Brian Montague. “We’re hop- low a bombshell statement from Blair last “The police officers failed to keep appro- ing for a speedy recovery for our officers.” week that police have a video that media priate notes, their oral testimony was unreli- There is nothing to indicate the act was reports had said appears to show the mayor able and there was no reliable evidence estab- deliberate, said Montague. smoking crack cocaine. lishing the supposed urgency,” he wrote. Injuries to the officers ranged from Blair said he was disappointed as a citi- Sheppard faces 30 years in prison or broken bones to complaints of difficulty zen and that “this is a traumatic issue for the could even end up joining the 150-or-so Ohio breathing and chest pain, said Montague. citizens of this city and for the reputation of death row inmates waiting for a lethal injec- By Monday morning, all four were recov- this city and that concerns me.’’ tion if charged and found guilty. ering at home from “various injuries that, Doug Ford said Blair’s comments were (CTV Montreal) everything considered, are relatively mi- improper for the chief to make and suggested nor,” he added. a bias against the mayor. monday Witness reports indicate the south- “When he released verbally the documen- november 04, 2013 bound BMW, driven by a 30-year-old wom- tation he made his personal comments while an, veered suddenly into the restaurant, said he was in his police chief uniform and there’s Montague. a massive conflict of interest,’’ he told CP24. Nov 04 2013 While the cause of the crash is still un- Blair’s spokesman, Mark Pugash, refused An international children’s rights group known, alcohol and speed do not appear to to wade into the fray. says it has uncovered dozens of Cana- be factors, Montague said Monday morning. (680News, CP24, The Canadian Press) dians willing to pay to watch a 10-year- Officers seized the woman’s cellphone, old Filipino girl perform sex acts on a and will be investigating whether she was Nov 05 2013 webcam during a sting operation. making a call at the time, he said. TORONTO - Calls are growing louder The group Terres des Hommes, operating The woman did not appear to be in- for stiffer penalties in Ontario for mo- out of Amsterdam, says it has identified 54 Ca- jured, but was “shaken up” and taken to torists caught driving while using their nadians among more than 1,000 adults from hospital as a precaution, he said. cellphones. 71 countries looking for webcam sex tourism. (Vancouver Sun) The insurance industry says such distracted 3 driving has overtaken drunk driving as the most spent his entire adult life with a badge, start- for $50,000 per transaction. serious danger on the roads. ing at age 21. The data jeopardized informants includ- The Insurance Bureau of Canada says it “It’s going to be a little strange not being ing Sylvain (Boubou) Boulanger, who turned has seen four times as many motorists charged a police officer anymore, but every police of- his back on the Hells Angels in 2006 to be- with distracted driving on long weekends as ficer reaches a point in his life when he knows come a highly paid provincial police contact, those charged with drunk driving. that it’s time,” said Gardiner. QMI has learned. Advocates are urging the governing The chief’s decision comes amid a pro- Now-deceased biker Rene Charlebois Liberals to impose larger fines and more tracted debate in the community over whether was offered dates and locations where the demerit points for drivers convicted of dis- the 181-year-old city police force should be police met and monitored Boulanger, says a tracted driving. replaced by the OPP. source. Boulanger is one of the star witnesses Other provinces and territories have al- That debate will reach its full height once Project SharQc, a massive police operation ready started using demerit points to help en- the results of the OPP’s costing, currently de- that netted 156 Hells Angels members and as- force their laws, which advocates say will go layed by a provincewide billing review, reach sociates in April 2009. a long way to reduce distracted driving. the city. “(Charlebois) wanted an astronomical A private member’s bill that proposes to That is not expected until next September sum for this info,” a source tells QMI. bring in these changes received all party sup- at the earliest. QMI police analyst Richard Dupuis says port last week in the legislature. (Recorder and Times) that such sensitive information would be worth at least $1 million on the open market. Nov 05 2013 Nov 05 2013 The deal never materialized and Char- MONTREAL - A former union boss with CALGARY - A man is in hospital in lebois also became a police informant. ties to shady crime figures is denying life-threatening condition after he was QMI reported last month that his cover he allowed the Mob and criminal bik- shot by a Calgary police officer. was blown in another leak connected to Ro- ers to infiltrate one of Quebec’s most Calgary police say two officers ap- berge. powerful labour organizations. proached a suspicious vehicle around 11 am. Charlebois escaped from his minimum- Jocelyn Dupuis says they weren’t run- Police say as the vehicle drove away one security prison on Sept. 14 and committed ning the Quebec Federation of Labour’s con- of the officers fired his weapon, hitting the suicide 12 days later. struction wing during his time as its director. man at least once. (QMI Agency) Dupuis insists he wasn’t an intermediary Neither of the two officers were hurt. between mobsters and bikers and the union’s Investigators who report to Alberta’s Jus- Nov 05 2013 investment wing - he was just trying to help tice Department have been called in to review A police officer testified he was on his people get ahead in life. what happened. own for the first few hours of a crisis He testified at Quebec’s corruption in- that led to the death of a man in Nes- quiry today that he didn’t realize he was in- Nov 05 2013 kantaga First Nation in December 2006. volved with organized crime figures. MONTREAL - The former Quebec biker On Monday, Nishnawbe Aski Police Ser- Dupuis says he knew Raynald Desjardins investigator charged with selling se- vice constable Danny Quisses testified at the had previous convictions for drugs, but that crets to Hells Angels also offered his inquest into Bruce Moonias’ death. he didn’t know about his Mob ties. services to the Mafia, QMI Agency has Quisses said he was in the community by Desjardins is a former Rizzuto lieuten- learned. himself the night of Dec. 9, 2006. ant currently incarcerated pending his first- He said two Nishnawbe Aski Police Ser- degree murder trial in the slaying of a New vice officers were assigned to Neskantaga York Mob boss near Montreal. First Nation at that time, but his partner was out of the community. Nov 05 2013 Quisses testified that NAPS officers at BROCKVILLE - Brockville Police Chief Neskantaga First Nation work 15 days on and John Gardiner is retiring next year, then have six days off. Officers usually leave months ahead of the city’s expected the community during their rest days so, for proposal from the Ontario Provincial that six-day period, there is only one police Police. officer in the whole community. The Brockville police services board an- He noted he works eight-hour shifts, but nounced this morning it has received and ac- Benoit Roberge, charged with gangster- if he’s alone in the community he gets calls at cepted a notice from the chief “indicating that ism, breach of trust and obstruction, had con- home or on the police radio 24 hours a day. he does not wish to renew his employment nections with Rizzuto crime family associate On the evening of Dec. 9, 2006, Quisses contract, with the (board), that is to expire Rocco Sollecito, say sources close to the in- said he was off work and was hosting a card May 31, 2014.” vestigation. game at his house when someone called to “The board is in process of formulating a Police had earlier said Roberge was spot- report gunshots. plan to determine a replacement for the posi- ted with an organized crime member when a It was determined they were coming from tion of police chief,” added the statement. SWAT team arrested him on Montreal’s south the home of Bruce Moonias, which he shared But the chief, whose three-year contract shore on Oct. 5. with his father, Stanley Moonias. Stanley with the city expires next May 31, said his QMI has learned that the reputed gang- Moonias was at the card game. decision to leave is not related to the ongoing ster in question was a member of the Macri Quisses testified that, just after 11 p.m. costing exercise. crime family. that night, he told Stanley Moonias to call “I think it’s time to perhaps move on Roberge worked with a Montreal-based home to try to get in contact with Bruce, but and have a look at some other things,” said anti-biker squad for 11 years. He left the unit there was no answer. Gardiner. in August. Quisses said he called his Nishnawbe The chief will have been in policing for Police confirm that information from on- Aski Police Service staff sergeant in Sioux more than 35 years at the end of May, and has going biker investigations was allegedly sold Lookout to report what was happening. His 4 staff sergeant instructed him not to go into any of police failures that allowed Pickton Bruce Moonias’ residence for safety reasons to kill women. and to evacuate neighbouring houses. Quiss- wednesday The Justice Ministry has released a prog- es said his superior flew to Eabemetoong november 06, 2013 ress report, identifying just 28 recommen- First Nation to pick up more NAPS officers, dations where action has been taken, with and it took until about 2:40 a.m. for them to Nov 06 2013 nearly all of them still considered in progress. arrive in Neskantaga. ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - Police say Oppal’s report highlighted two recom- Quisses said he also received a call from more than two dozen people have mendations as urgent, including funding for the NAPS chief of police to say he was call- been arrested after a nine-month in- a drop-in centre for sex workers in the Down- ing in the Ontario Provincial Police for help. vestigation into biker gang activity in town Eastside and transportation along High- He was aware Quisses was alone and told him the Niagara area. way 16, dubbed the Highway of Tears, in the to “hang tight.” Niagara regional police say they began province’s north. The OPP Emergency Response Team ar- investigating the activities of the Outlaws The government was quick to announce rived at about 7:40 a.m. Dec. 10. They se- motorcycle gang and Black Pistons motor- funding for the WISH drop-in centre, but cured the area around Bruce Moonias’ house. cycle gang in the area earlier this year. the progress report says the province is still It wasn’t until the OPP’s tactical response The investigation - dubbed Project Re- studying potential transportation options for unit arrived later in the afternoon that officers surgence - was expanded in April to include the Highway of Tears. could make contact with Moonias inside. investigators with Canada Border Services One of the most high-profile recommen- Quisses testified that around 4:45 p.m. Agency, Ontario Provincial Police and dations was Oppal’s call for a regional police he was asked to get a stretcher and notify RCMP. force in the Vancouver area, and while a re- the community nursing station, because the Police say they uncovered evidence of view of policing in B.C. is about to begin, OPP tactical response team was going into narcotics trafficking - including heroin, co- the province has largely steered clear of the the house. Quisses said the medical vehicle caine and marijuana - along with evidence regional policing debate. at the nursing station wasn’t working, so he of weapons trafficking, break and enter, as- took the stretcher in his NAPS police truck. sault, extortion and participation in a crimi- Nov 06 2013 Quisses brought the stretcher into the nal organization. ALLISTON, Ont. - Nineteen central On- house and saw Bruce Moonias in the bed. He More than 220 officers - including tario residents face scores of drug testified Moonias was alert and greeted him some from the Toronto, Guelph and Hamil- charges in a six-month police investiga- by name. ton police forces - took part in early morn- tion that began with two deaths linked After other officers brought Bruce Moo- ing raids Wednesday, executing about 30 to the abuse of a powerful painkiller. nias out on the stretcher, Quisses drove him search and arrest warrants in and around to the nursing station in the back of his truck. the Niagara area. Quisses testified Moonias was still alert and The 28 Niagara residents arrested face talking to people at the airport before he was charges including narcotics offences, con- flown out to Thunder Bay by air ambulance. spiracy, break and enter and criminal organi- But in the early morning hours of Dec. zation-related offences. 11, Quisses was notified that Bruce Moo- Niagara police say the investigation is nias had died. He went to Bruce’s aunt’s ongoing and more charges and arrests are home to break the news to her and to expected. Bruce’s father Stanley. (CBC News) Nov 06 2013 Provincial police say fentanyl - which WINNIPEG - The Manitoba govern- is 100 times more potent than morphine - is Nov 05 2013 ment, Winnipeg police and social commonly used in a slow-release prescription TORONTO - The chief of police wants agencies are teaming up on a new patch but is being illegally scrapped off and $386,000 to put 184 Tasers in the anti-crime program in the city’s North smoked, with potentially lethal results. hands of front-line officers — increas- End neighbourhood. The Project Daisy investigation was ing the controversial weapon’s use by Premier Greg Selinger says the aim is to launched in May into the two deaths and one-third, despite some strong public improve communication between the differ- other illegal activity related to the acquisition opposition. ent agencies, so that troubled families can be and distribution of the drug in several Simcoe But the chair of the Police Services Board identified and get help earlier. County communities. says Chief Bill Blair will have to wait. The province is spending $600,000 Police say 19 arrest warrants were ex- Blair will table a report at Thursday’s po- over three years for a pilot project in a ecuted on Monday and Tuesday, with 208 lice board meeting — following Community 21-block area. fentanyl patches, 100 Oxycontin pills, mari- Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur’s ap- If it’s successful, Selinger says it may be juana, bear spray, $1,400 in cash and a GMC proval of the expanded use in August — argu- expanded to other areas. pickup truck seized. ing the force has a record of “good judgment The accused face a total of 172 charges, under difficult circumstances.” Nov 06 2013 including trafficking in a controlled sub- Other than referring to “operational VANCOUVER - The B.C. government stance, possession of a controlled substance needs” and “community safety,” Blair offered says it has taken action on fewer than and possession for the purpose of trafficking. no justification in his written report for re- half of the recommendations from a Six of the accused appeared in a Barrie questing the expansion now. public inquiry into the Robert Pickton court Wednesday, while the remainder are The board will vote to receive the report case, nearly a year after the report was due in court on Dec. 19. Thursday for further debate and won’t be vot- released. “The inappropriate use, abuse, and di- ing on whether to approve Blair’s request at Commissioner Wally Oppal’s report, version of prescription narcotics are public this stage. released last December, made 65 recom- health and safety issues right across Cana- (Torstar) mendations for change and outlined a lit- da, and our area is no different,’’ Insp. Dirk 5 Cockburn said in a release. want to keep their jobs. Nov 06 2013 Police said two other deaths in the area However, it appears to have no chance CALGARY - Calgary’s police chief are also suspected of being fentanyl-related. of passing in its current form, in the current says he stands by the actions of of- The province’s coroner found there were legislature. ficers who shot a man in the city’s 253 deaths of acute drug toxicity linked to southeast earlier this week. fentanyl between 2009 and 2011 - second Nov 06 2013 Rick Hanson says the officer who shot the only to deaths from oxycodone, police said. MONTREAL - Montreal police have suspect has 18 months on the job and felt his Another 36 deaths linked to fentanyl have oc- shown off the latest addition to their life was at risk. curred this year. crime-fighting arsenal - a $360,000 ar- Hanson also says the suspect is known moured vehicle they say has been in to police and allege the vehicle he was in Nov 06 2013 development for the past 11 years. was stolen. OTTAWA - The federal government Francois Houle, the commander of the Although he says he is confident the of- wants to create a publicly accessi- Montreal force’s SWAT team, says the grey- ficer’s actions were justified, Hanson says the ble database of Canadian terrorism coloured vehicle, similar to those that trans- investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident incidents. port money, will be used primarily to protect Response Team will continue. The web-based tool would be aimed at officers against armed suspects, who may be The family of Matthew Brown, the man helping policy-makers and researchers identi- involved in situations like hostage-takings. who was shot, admits he recently served time fy trends and patterns in extremist behaviour. Reporters were invited Wednesday to get for robbery with a weapon but says he wasn’t The government says no such compre- a closer look at the imposing police wagon, violent and didn’t deserve being shot. hensive Canadian database exists, meaning which is designed to allow officers to use less They say he had simply been sleeping in every researcher must start from scratch in force when negotiating with someone threat- his vehicle after being up late the night before. accumulating the same materials. ening to use weapons. Brown, 23, is in hospital in life-threaten- In addition, some researchers have a pro- Houle says it could be used to protect an ing condition with a bullet lodged in his neck. prietary approach to the information they col- injured citizen or a police officer who is try- (CHED, Global Calgary) lect and do not share it with others. ing to get inside a perimeter where a person is The government recently solicited bids using firearms. from interested parties for a contract to host He adds that the mobile barricade can thursday and begin building the database. take a pounding from projectiles, but he november 07, 2013 It has set aside about $130,000 over two won’t provide any precise details about its years to get the project started. capabilities. Nov 07 2013 The SWAT team boss notes that other TORONTO - In their latest attempt to Nov 06 2013 major police forces in Canada have similar rid the city of over-the-counter pot MEDICINE HAT, Alta. - A jail guard in armoured vehicles, including the RCMP, substitutes, Toronto drug squad offi- southern Alberta faces drug charges Quebec provincial police, Ontario provincial cers raided downtown retail outlets on following an investigation that turned police and municipal forces in Quebec City, the lookout for “The Izms,” tiny pack- up marijuana and $1,000 in cash. Ottawa and Vancouver. ets of made-in-Canada herbal blends Police say Ricki Raymond Fehr, who is that, until recently, most Torontonians Nov 06 2013 24, was arrested at the Medicine Hat Remand assumed were legal. Centre last week. SASKATOON - Members of the Sas- “The colourful packaging is deceiving Officers were investigating allegations that katoon Police Pipes and Drums Band and could attract children to purchase/obtain someone was bringing marijuana to inmates. say they’re worried about the future if the drug,” wrote Toronto Police Const. Wen- Fehr has been charged with possession of they can’t attract some new members. dy Drummond in a statement about Tuesday’s a controlled substance for the purpose of traf- raid, which netted 84 packets of The Izms ficking and possession of proceeds of crime. (pronounced izz-ums), as well as “posters and He is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 3. promotional advertisements.” (CJCY) Until it became the focus of a crackdown early this year, The Izms had cornered the Nov 06 2013 Toronto market for synthetic cannabinoids; QUEBEC - The Parti Quebecois’ con- mixtures of herbs and synthetic hallucinogens troversial values charter is being re- that mimic the effect of marijuana. branded - and its official new name is The Izms was founded by Adam Wookey, a mouthful. grandson of the developer who built Hazelton It will be tabled Thursday as a bill in the Lanes, and a former cocaine dealer who was legislature under the formal title: Charter Af- Rob Kinnaird, the pipe major who has played jailed at the age of 22. firming The Values Of Secularism And The in the band for more than 30 years, has taken to Upon his release, as he later told Religious Neutrality Of The State, As Well Kijiji looking for new - and younger - faces. a reporter for Metro Toronto, he set to As The Equality Of Men And Women, And The pipe section is now down to eight work marketing “legal alternatives” to il- The Framing Of Accommodation Requests. core members, and Kinnaird would ideally licit drugs; first PurePillz, which manu- The minister responsible says he didn’t like to recruit four more pipers. factured pill alternatives to ecstacy and pick that 28-word name. But he says finding people who can play speed, and then The Izms, which focused Bernard Drainville says the title was se- the bagpipes is not an easy task. on smokable offerings. lected by government lawyers who worked He says kids these days don’t seem to Promising “less burnout and paranoia than on the bill. want to put in the time it takes to master the illicits” and “no legal risk,” the product has The plan would force state employees to “difficult’’ instrument. been ubiquitous at head shops, convenience take off their headscarves, yarmulkes, turbans The band has been around for 50 years. stores and romance boutiques across Canada. and larger-than-average crucifixes if they (CKOM) That started to change in January, when 6 a man walked into the Love Shop, a romance Toronto Police Association president that the warrant did not authorize the search store in Hamilton, claimed he had a weapon, Mike McCormack said before the hearing of the computers and phone, but overall it and ordered the clerk to hand over all the syn- that the charge is laid any time an officer is was not a serious violation of rights and the thetic marijuana. charged with a criminal offence. evidence should not have been excluded. Within weeks, the bizarre robbery had Forcillo, 30, is charged with second-de- put the product in the crosshairs of law en- gree murder in the death of 18-year-old Sam- Nov 07 2013 forcement, and elicited a March public alert my Yatim, who was shot multiple times and REGINA - Saskatchewan is bringing in a from Toronto Police warning that “any busi- Tasered on an empty streetcar in July. zero drug and alcohol tolerance policy ness owners in possession of the described The incident was captured on surveil- for drivers under 19 and for all drivers in products should call police.” lance and cellphone video on which nine the graduated licensing program. The police renewed the advisory after shots can be heard following shouts for Yatim The move is one of 14 traffic safety mea- Tuesday’s raid. Although the “variety stores” to drop a knife. sures that was recommended by a legislative targeted by the operation lost their stocks of committee report in August. the hallucinogen, nobody was charged. Nov 07 2013 The province is also going to seize cars at In March, Mr. Wookey was charged with NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. - The the roadside for young or new drivers with al- two counts of trafficking synthetic marijuana Saskatchewan Court of Appeal will cohol in their systems and for all drivers with — although the charges were soon stayed not allow key evidence to be used in a a blood alcohol content between .08 and .15 without explanation. woman’s drug trafficking trial because or who refuse a test. Last week, the 29-year-old was again police burst through the wrong door Mandatory ignition interlocks are also arrested after police raids reportedly of her home during a raid. coming for convicted impaired drivers. turned up $2-million worth of MDMA, The ruling - published recently on an on- Donna Harpauer, minister responsible for marijuana, cocaine, ketamine, heroin and line legal database - concerns a drug search in Saskatchewan Government Insurance, says crystal meth that could allegedly be traced a North Battleford home two years ago. 184 people were killed on roads and high- back to Mr. Wookey. Police obtained a search warrant to ways in the province last year. The Izms did not reply to check the place after getting a tip about a emails for comment, and an employee reached different suspect using an upper floor suite Nov 07 2013 at the company’s customer service line refused to store drugs. Wellington County is disbanding it’s to comment or acknowledge Tuesday’s raids. Officers converged on the home in Sep- OPP mounted unit. The company’s standard argument, how- tember 2011 and went upstairs, where they County council voted on Oct. 31 in sup- ever, is that its product is not illegal since it used a battering ram to enter a locked room port of a police services board recommenda- does not contain any illegal ingredients. And in which they found evidence of trafficking. tion to dismantle the unit, which consists of technically, despite reams of promotional ma- Drugs found in other parts of the house three horses: Bosco, Jasper and Moose. terial stating otherwise, it’s not meant to be led to the arrest of the woman, who had called The issue was also part of a closed ses- smoked. The product is marketed as incense, 9-1-1 to report a home invasion when she sion of council, after which Warden Chris and its packaging even makes sure to note heard a commotion as the officers arrived. White announced the unit was being disband- that it is “not for human consumption.” But the courts said the search warrant was ed after 11 years of service. Health Canada would disagree. Although issued for the rental suite, which had a sepa- “It wasn’t an easy decision,” said coun- the product contains no cannabis, simply by rate exterior entrance, and that the document cillor Ray Tout, who is the county represen- being a “synthetic preparations of cannabis” mentioned marijuana in the upstairs suite. tative on the police services board. “People it is fair game for the Controlled Drugs and The problems led to the evidence being love horses.” Substances Act, according to a Health Cana- excluded from the woman’s trial, which is The horses have been a fixture at fall fairs da statement last November. expected to lead to difficulty for the Crown in and patrols in many of the urban communities Toronto Police say the product can cause proceeding with the case. throughout Wellington County. “seizures to hallucinations to acute psycho- (CBC, The Canadian Press, Online Out) Tout said the cost to operate the mounted sis”— although critics note that the product unit is about $250,000 annually, including remains too unstudied to make definitive links. Nov 07 2013 two officers staffing the unit, a vehicle to In the United States, reports have OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of transport the horses, lodging and food. emerged about different brands of synthetic Canada has ruled against a British Bosco has been under veterinary care marijuana sending teenagers to the hospital Columbia man who was seeking to over the past several weeks and is expected with chest pains or even causing fatal lung avoid a second trial in a marijuana to remain under care for an extended period. damage, prompting state bans and raids by grow-op case. “It became quite expensive in the eyes the Drug Enforcement Administration. Thanh Long Vu was charged after an of the [police services board],” Tout said of (National Post) RCMP raid on a house in Langley, B.C., in the decision. September 2007. “That’s two officers we can have on the Nov 07 2013 The police seized two computers and a street,” he added, noting the officers will be TORONTO - A disciplinary charge cellphone in the raid, but the trial judge threw redeployed. “What’s more important for Wel- against a Toronto police officer out evidence gleaned from them, saying the lington County is two officers on the beat.” charged in the shooting death of a authorizing warrant should have been more The mounted unit is one of the few OPP young man on a streetcar has been specific about electronic documents. detachments that provided mounted officers put on hold until the end of the With the evidence excluded, Vu was on patrol. criminal case. acquitted, but the B.C. Court of Appeal dis- The mounted unit was first tested in 1998. Const. James Forcillo briefly appeared agreed with the ruling and ordered a new trial. The unit, Tout said, will be officially disband- before a disciplinary hearing at Toronto Vu appealed to the high court, which ed by the end of the year, with the horses be- Police headquarters Thursday on a charge ruled against him in a 9-0 decision. ing put out to pasture. of discreditable conduct under the Police Writing for the court, Justice Thomas (Wellington Advertiser) Services Act. Cromwell said he agreed with the trial judge

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