December 26, 2014 – Vol. 19 No. 52 National security demands leave RCMP areas understaffed

Dec 18 2014 VICTORIA - British Columbia needs to appoint a crime-fighting boss who can cut through pro- vincial, municipal and social bu- reaucracies to build unified crime- prevention teams, say government reports released Thursday. Page 2

Dec 18 2014 TORONTO - Toronto police are trying to capitalize on the mete- oric popularity of the world’s most downloaded podcast, Serial. Page 3

Dec 19 2014 OTTAWA - Under pressure to pre- vent future attacks on Parliament Hill after the Oct. 22 assault by a gunman, the Mounties are bringing in rookie officers to boost security. Dec 22 2014 Page 5 The RCMP is seeking more money to Mounties working on issues such as or- ganized crime, drugs and corruption have Dec 21 2014 replace the dozens of Mounties who have dropped their regular duties to fo- been transferred to investigations into dozens NEW YORK - The gunman who fa- cus on new threats posed by Canadian of cases of Canadians who have returned to tally ambushed two police officers foreign fighters, federal sources said. Canada after travelling in places like Iraq and in their squad car had a long crimi- The move comes as Ottawa prepares to Syria, sources said. nal record, a hatred for police and introduce legislation early in the new year Sources added the attack by Michael the government, and an apparent making it easier to track and arrest Islamic Zehaf-Bibeau on the War Memorial and history of mental instability that in- State supporters and other militants. Parliament in Ottawa on Oct. 22 further in- cluded an attempt to hang himself A spokesman for the RCMP confirmed creased the shift in policing efforts, exacer- a year ago, authorities said Sunday. that some traditional areas of policing have bating holes in other areas of the national Page 7 been affected by the renewed threats to na- police force. tional security posed by travellers to conflict “The RCMP has reallocated resources to Dec 22 2014 zones, sympathizers or jihadis. national security to address this key priority,” TORONTO - In the wake of the fatal shooting of two New York police of- ficers over the weekend, the presi- dent of the Toronto Police union is calling for an end to online “anti- police rhetoric” that has reached a “fever pitch.” Page 8 Sergeant Greg Cox said. “Employees from public safety committee of the House, in a criminal negligence causing death and two different parts of the country were trans- joint appearance with Mr. Blaney and CSIS counts of dangerous driving causing death. ferred to high-risk traveller files from other director Michel Coulombe. Pauline Volikakis, the wife and mother of federal policing areas, such as organized “We have 63 active national-security inves- the victims, welcomed the sentence. crime, to the five INSETs [Integrated Na- tigations on 90 individuals who are related to “I’m just happy that.. .we can now move tional Security Enforcement Teams] located the travelling group, people who intend to go on, maybe turn the page and continue with a across the country.” [to countries like Iraq and Syria] or people who positive attitude, instead of a negative (one),’’ Sgt. Cox did not confirm the RCMP’s have returned,” Commissioner Paulson said. she said outside the courtroom. request for increased funding, but added that The federal government went on to intro- Volikakis said the judge “did what she Commissioner Bob Paulson regularly meets duce Bill C-44, a counterterrorism law aimed had to do.’’ with Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney. at boosting powers of the Canadian Security In passing sentence, Quebec Superior “They discuss a variety of issues, includ- Intelligence Service. The bill has been on a fast Court Justice Eliane Perreault noted that ing the force’s budget, programs and overall track through Parliament since its tabling af- Czornobaj, now 26, showed no remorse dur- direction,” the RCMP spokesman said. ter the Oct. 22 shooting, which came two days ing the trial and had described the tragedy as Sgt. Cox refused to state how many of- after Martin Couture-Rouleau rammed into an accident. ficers have been reassigned, saying that the two Canadian Forces members in St-Jean-sur- Perreault said the accused showed a “reck- “number of employees fluctuates on a regu- Richelieu, killing one. less disregard for the safety of others’’ when lar basis.” Mr. Blaney has said another bill with ex- she left her vehicle to tend to the ducklings. In an appearance in front of the public panded law-enforcement powers for surveil- safety committee of the House earlier this lance, detention and arrest in counterterror- Dec 18 2014 month, Mr. Blaney said he was “looking ism cases is due for release in the near future. VICTORIA - British Columbia needs to forward to coming back to this committee (Globe and Mail) appoint a crime-fighting boss who can to seek support for additional funding to in- cut through provincial, municipal and crease our safety and for the evolving threat social bureaucracies to build unified of terrorism.” THURSDAY crime-prevention teams, say govern- A government official, speaking on con- DECEMBER 18, 2014 ment reports released Thursday. dition of anonymity, said on Sunday that the Two reports by Liberal MLAs Darryl Ple- “door is open” to additional funding to secu- cas and Laurie Throness focus on preventing rity agencies such as the RCMP and the Ca- Dec 18 2014 crime in communities and keeping inmates nadian Security Intelligence Service. KAMLOOPS, B.C. - Two new charges from returning to jail. “We are working to give additional tools have been laid against a man accused The Plecas report makes six recommen- to security agencies,” the official said. “All of shooting a Mountie in Kamloops, dations, stating that the clearest message from agencies and departments want more money B.C., during a traffic stop. 14 roundtable meetings and input from 600 … but some demands make more sense.” When 36-year-old Kenneth Knutson ap- people calls for improved collaboration and Still, the official said the effects of the new peared in court for a bail hearing on Thursday co-ordination on crime prevention programs legislation will need to be analyzed before he learned he now faces six charges. across B.C. looking at the request for additional funding. The new counts are for aggravated as- “While many presenters were proud of the “The measures will be designed to allow sault and possession of a firearm contrary results they saw in their communities, there the security agencies to make arrests more to order in the Dec. 3 shooting of Cpl. Jean was frequent mention of disjointed approach- quickly,” the official said. “This could poten- Michaud, who is still in hospital recovering es, fragmented interventions, and the propen- tially help to clear a number of these national- from critical injuries. sity of many professionals to work in ‘silos’ security cases more quickly.” Crown spokesman Neil MacKenzie says isolated from each other,’’ the report said. In October, Commissioner Paulson laid Knutson was initially charged with a variety “There is clearly a need for a province- out the extent of the work being conducted of offences related to the alleged use of a fire- wide interagency collaboration model that by the Mounties during an appearance at the arm along with an attempted-murder charge. supports the development of local partner- MacKenzie says the added allegations are ships. Provincial and municipal governments that a restricted or prohibited firearm was used, should actively work to break down bureau- and the aggravating factor can involve an in- cratic silos.’’ crease in mandatory minimum sentences. Plecas urged the government to appoint Knutson’s bail hearing has now been “a senior crime reduction leader to improve ISSN 1704-3913 scheduled for Jan. 15 because he does not yet interagency collaboration across the wide Copyright 2014 have a lawyer. range of crime reduction activities in B.C.’’ Blue Line Magazine Inc. & The Canadian Press (CHNL) A Justice Ministry statement said the Permission to reprint may be obtained in advance from government will consider a pilot project to Access Copyright Dec 18 2014 Phone 1-800-893-5777 [email protected] test that recommendation. MONTREAL - A widow whose husband Justice Minister Suzanne Anton said in a Published weekly by Blue Line Magazine, Inc. as an executive and daughter died when their motor- statement that the government is already follow- news briefing service to Canada’s top level law enforcement personnel. cycle crashed into a woman’s car as ing through on many of the recommendations. Most information supplied in this publication is from news- she helped ducks on a highway is sat- Plecas, who is a criminologist, was ap- wire services. As such Blue Line Magazine does not ac- isfied with the 90-day jail term the ac- cept responsibility for the accuracy of articles as supplied. pointed in September 2013 to convene a cused received Thursday. panel of experts to find ways to drive down All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, Besides serving the time on weekends, B.C.’s crime rate. stored in an electronic database or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, with- Emma Czornobaj must do 240 hours of com- He recommended more focus on reduc- out the prior permission of the publishers. One Year Subscriptions munity service and is prohibited from driving ing crime by repeat offenders, expanding are $10500 (GST Included). Paid subscribers may make up to four for 10 years. (4) copies of this publication for distribution within their organization. services for addicted and mentally ill inmates After Czornobaj stopped her car in June and increasing the use of restorative justice. Group Publisher: Morley S. Lymburner 2010 to rescue ducklings on the side of the In another report on B.C.’s corrections PUBLISHER: Kathryn M. Lymburner - [email protected] highway, the motorcycle carrying Andre Roy NEWS EDITOR: Mark Reesor - [email protected] system, Throness said the province should ex- Subscriptions: Blue Line Store at www.BlueLine.ca and his teenager daughter Jessie slammed pand job training for offenders so they can be ADVERTISING: 1-888-640-3048 into her vehicle. employed as they transition back into society. 12A-4981 Hwy. 7 East, Ste. 254, Markham ON L3R 1N1 Phone: 905 640-3048 eMail: [email protected] A jury convicted her of two counts of He also called for ways to address the 2 root causes of repeat offences and strategies case to come forward with new information. so they can speak with her. He has also posted to increase safety for inmates while they’re in Toronto homicide detectives have been photos of three critical pieces of evidence: a custody and in the community. listening, too. Now they are using the wide- hair extension, a high-heeled shoe and a set of spread interest in Serial to help solve the mys- keys with a distinctive key chain. Dec 18 2014 terious 2011 New Year’s Eve murder of Mike He tweets a new piece of evidence every WATERLOO REGION -During his first Pimentel in Liberty Village. Saturday, with a final clue expected on New week in the job back in February 1980, Pimentel was at a party with two other Year’s Eve. Steve Beckett was supposed to take friends but the trio was separated as they were “This could be a unique way of drawing part in cadet training at the Waterloo leaving. At some point, Pimentel ended up information from the general public and more Regional Police 911 call centre. alone, got into a confrontation with an unknown specifically people who were in Liberty Vil- man and woman, and was stabbed to death. lage on January 1, 2012,” said Det. Jeff Ta- Earlier this month, Det. Tam Bui began vares, who works with Bui in the homicide posting clues from the case on Twitter in an unit and has helped with the project. effort to crowd source new information. “We were hoping that using the Serial Using the hashtag #mikepimentelmurder, podcast as a parallel to our investigation Bui has tweeted photos of the crime scene and perhaps would spark interest in those who an image of a woman police hope to identify have been following Serial and they’ll say,

With roads closed by a massive storm and unable to get to the Kitchener centre, he was told not to make the trip from Cambridge. “I didn’t know what to do,” laughed Beckett, recalling his unforgettable first night. He may have been a cadet, but Beckett’s intrinsic sense of duty wasn’t having any of that. He made his way to the Cambridge po- lice detachment instead, putting himself to work, helping out local officers and pushing cars out of snowbanks during the storm. It’s that kind of tenacity and sense of duty that saw Beckett rise through the ranks, from a still-wet-behind-the-ears cadet all the way to his current post as deputy chief. That policing career, served entirely at the local police force, will come to an end exactly 35 years later, when Beckett retires at the end of February 2015. The deputy chief made the official an- nouncement during the police services board meeting this past Tuesday (Dec. 16). And while Beckett said it’s been an honour to wear the badge for 35 years, he’s now setting his radar on a new mission: Operation Fresh Air and Fly Fishing. “I’ve been wearing this uniform since I was 18 years old,” said Beckett, sitting in his office at police headquarters. He is looking forward to a different office, one where the coveted view is from the outdoors. “Ideally, I’ll get a chance to take a deep breath,” he said. (Cambridge Times)

Dec 18 2014 TORONTO - Toronto police are trying to capitalize on the meteoric popular- ity of the world’s most downloaded podcast, Serial. Serial focuses on the opaque details sur- rounding the 1999 murder of 18-year-old Baltimore-area high school student Hae Min Lee and the man convicted of killing her, Ad- nan Syed. The series has been downloaded by mil- lions of people worldwide and spawned end- less online speculation and debate. It also en- couraged some people on the periphery of the 3 ‘Hey, we have a real life Serial story in our CTV News asked the OPP if the force or Moyse and a co-accused, Const. Tre- neighbourhood so why don’t we start follow- Sergeant Watson would answer questions about vor Ens, were found guilty at a 2011 trial of ing this,” said Tavares in an interview with the case and was told no. Police would also not punching and kicking a man during a con- CBC’s Metro Morning. say if Sergeant Watson had been assigned to ad- frontation in a bar parking lot in Traverse Bay, Tavares said the detectives have received ministrative duties after the incident. northeast of Winnipeg, three years earlier. “a ton of positive response” to the tweets, and Farrell says she plans on moving forward Moyse was given a four-month jail sen- a few people have even come forward with with a civil suit against the police officer and tence and Ens received a four-month condi- potentially helpful information, including a she is still hopeful the officer will be charged. tional sentence, but both immediately filed woman who said she owns the same pair of (CTV News) appeals. shoes and identified where she bought them. Manitoba’s highest court overturned the Toronto police are generally very active Dec 18 2014 verdicts in a ruling last year and ordered on social media. Det.-Sgt. Brian Borg has SASKATOON - A man has pleaded a new trial for both men, but Moyse’s plea been tweeting out clues to cold cases since guilty to manslaughter and impaired means that won’t be necessary. November, hoping to advance multiple cases driving causing death after hitting and The Crown agreed Thursday to drop a that remain unsolved. killing a conservation officer. similar assault charge against Ens, who faces (CBC News) Blaine Taypotat, who is 35, will return to no further legal sanctions. court in early January for sentencing. (Winnipeg Free Press) Dec 18 2014 Justin Knackstedt, 25, and a colleague ORILLIA - In a case even the Special had stopped to help first responders with traf- Dec 19 2014 Investigation Unit (SIU) calls rare, a fic control while they were dealing with a BELLEVILLE, Ont. - Belleville police judge had some harsh words for an crash on Highway 11 on May 31, 2013. say they have completed an inter- OPP Sergeant who claimed that he had RCMP got a call that an SUV was driving nal investigation into inappropriate been assaulted by an Orillia woman – erratically toward the scene. posts made by an officer on Twitter charges that have been thrown out. But before police could get to their vehi- but won’t say if anyone was disci- Tonie Farrell, 48, continues to limp her cles, the SUV ran over Knackstedt, who was plined. way around with a cane after two surgeries pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation began Dec. 8 after the after a violent incident involving an OPP of- Taypotat continued driving until his car comments were posted on the social media ficer in 2013. rolled into a ditch near Saskatoon. site by a user named “The Copper’’ from On April 2, 2013, Farrell, a mother of six (CJWW) the account (at)BPS-Finest. and a grandmother of two, witnessed an as- One of the posts read: “Sometimes I sault between two young guys and one young wish the cruiser played ‘Move Bitch, Get girl in downtown Orillia. Moments later po- FRIDAY Out The Way’ instead of using sirens.’’ lice arrived and Farrell says she tried to give DECEMBER 19, 2014 The Twitter page also had a photograph Sergeant Russell Watson a description of the of a man hiding his face, wearing a vest suspects. with the word “Police’’ on it. “He told me to shut the f*** up and I Dec 19 2014 The investigation has determined the stepped back and I asked is that the way you ST. JOHN’S, N.L. - The Justice and tweets were posted by a Belleville police talk to people? I said what’s your name? Public Safety Department in New- officer who was not on duty at the time and Badge number? And I step to the write it and foundland and Labrador has been that the officer did not use a police-issued as I did he kicked me a karate kick to my leg,” charged after the death of an enforce- BlackBerry to post the messages. says Farrell. “And he kept pounding on me, I ment officer last year. Acting Inspector Chris Barry says the was on the ground with my arms underneath Service Newfoundland and Labrador identity of the officer won’t be released and me and he was on my back and he was pound- says a fish and wildlife enforcement officer that the issue has been addressed internally ing my head into the cement.” was patrolling an area in western Newfound- but he wouldn’t comment on whether any Farrell was taken to hospital. She had a land near Bellburns on a snowmobile on Feb. discipline was involved. broken tibia and a crushed knee. Farrell was 21, 2013, when he fell through the ice and (CJOJ) charged with assaulting a peace officer and drowned. obstruction. The Justice and Public Safety Depart- Dec 19 2014 The SIU looked into the incident but says ment has been charged under the Occupa- LONDON, Ont. - Provincial police say it found no reasonable grounds to lay any tional Health and Safety Act with failure to 33 people are facing a total of 186 charges against the officer. Sergeant Watson provide necessary information, instruction, charges following a two-year inves- was interviewed by the SIU but did not pro- training and supervision and failure to ensure tigation into illegal drug trafficking vide a copy of his notes. necessary protective clothing and devices rings in southwestern Ontario. Earlier this week Farrell was found not were used. The investigation dubbed Project Pi- guilty on both charges. In handing down his The department is also charged with fail- necreek began in 2012 and was expanded sentence, Justice George Beatty said Sergeant ure to ensure written safe work procedures ap- in July this year. Watson was not injured while Farrell’s in- propriate to the hazards and work activity were Police say “significant quantities’’ of jures were catastrophic. included in the employer’s safety program. methamphetamine and cocaine were being “We would really hope the SIU now with Justice and Public Safety Minister Judy distributed in Huron, Lambton and Perth Justice Beatty’s ruling would take another Manning says Howard Lavers was a highly Counties. look at the investigation would reopen it or respected enforcement officer and his death The investigation led to search war- initiate, to be frank, and consider whether he has affected many people. rants being executed at 11 locations across should be charged in our opinion he should the region. be,” says defence lawyer Angela McLeod. Dec 19 2014 Police say drugs seized included co- On Thursday, the SIU told CTV News “In WINNIPEG - A Manitoba RCMP officer caine, methamphetamine, hydromorphone light of the recent court findings, the SIU will accused of beating a handcuffed man powder and various pills, along with about be reviewing Justice Beatty’s decision.” he wrongfully arrested has pleaded 20 kilograms of marijuana. “I believe if I had done that to someone guilty to a charge of assault. Restricted and prohibited weapons and I’d be in jail and I think that he should at least Cpl. Jeffrey Thomas Moyse, who is 44, about $22,000 worth of stolen property was have to stand-up to the same thing if anyone entered the plea Thursday and will face a sen- also seized. else did that to someone,” says Farrell. tencing hearing next June. 4 Dec 19 2014 The officer, who has remained anony- The couple, both in their 70s, were last SURREY - A Surrey RCMP officer mous, has given out cash to at least 50 people, seen alive more than four years ago when charged with numerous firearm of- most of them with run-down cars in need of they fuelled up their motorhome in their fences in 2010 has been ordered to repairs, said Ian Lafrenière, a spokesman for hometown of St. Albert, north of Edmonton. stand trial in B.C. Supreme Court. Montreal police. Const. David Matthew Clarke was in Lafrenière said when he heard what the Dec 19 2014 Surrey Provincial Court early this week for a officer was doing, he couldn’t believe it. WINDSOR - Windsor police officer preliminary hearing of evidence, which con- “I thought it was a prank, it was a joke,” Dorothy Nesbeth has been dismissed cluded Wednesday (Dec. 17). he said. from the Windsor Police Service. He was initially charged with 15 offenc- “Then we found out about it. It’s the of- A Police Act hearing in October found es, but has been ordered to stand trial on 12 ficer, a friend of his gave him money, $5,000, Nesbeth guilty of discreditable conduct but of them. and he asked him to give out the money and not guilty on a charge of threatening a police The charges include breach of trust by a make a difference this year.” officer stemming from a 2010 incident at the public officer, possession of stolen property, The reaction has been overwhelming, La- border. three counts of of unauthorized possession frenière said. In July 2010, Nesbeth failed to declare a of a firearm, three of knowingly possessing a “[The officer] was extremely touched by large amount of alcohol stored in her trunk firearm without a licence, two of possessing a the reaction of people, people crying of joy, while returning to Canada at the Ambassador prohibited or restricted firearm with ammuni- being so surprised at getting money from a Bridge. tion, and two counts of knowingly possessing police officer,” he said. In a decision reached on Friday, Supt. a prohibited weapon without a licence. The officer has finished handing out mon- Robert J. Fitches had this to say about Nes- The charges relate to offences that alleg- ey for now, Lafrenière said. beth’s dismissal. edly occurred in Chilliwack. (CBC News) “[The] damage to the reputation of the The case will now be heard in B.C. Su- police service, the public interest and the de- preme Court in New Westminster. A trial date Dec 19 2014 struction of the relationship of trust between has yet to be set. QUEBEC - The three men who spec- Constable Nesbeth and the Windsor Police When Clarke was charged four years ago, tacularly broke out of a Quebec jail by Service are such that her good work history Surrey’s then-Chief Supt. Fraser MacRae helicopter last June were sentenced and other positive attributes as described in said such situations “are very rare” but taken Friday to between 16 and 22 years in the letters of support, her evaluations and her very seriously. prison on drug charges. conduct sheets do no provide sufficient miti- Clarke remains suspended without pay. Serge Pomerleau, Denis Lefebvre and gation to erase or alter the fact that her useful- His next court date is Jan. 8. Yves Denis were found guilty in October of ness to the Windsor Police Service has been (Surrey North Delta Leader) conspiracy, gangsterism and drug trafficking. annulled,” Fitches wrote in his conclusion. On those charges, Pomerleau, Lefebvre In July 2010, Nesbeth was pulled into Dec 19 2014 and Denis were given prison terms of 22, 20 Canadian customs where border agents found RIVERTON, N.S. - Police have identi- and 16 years respectively. cases of beer, wine and rum in her trunk. fied a 49-year-old man who died as he Before being sentenced, the three pleaded She was not charged, but the border agen- was being arrested at a special care guilty to breaking out of jail and, as a conse- cy told Windsor Police about the incident. home on Tuesday in northeastern quence, Quebec Superior Court Justice Louis Police charged her with deceit and dis- Nova Scotia. Dionne added an extra year to their sentences. creditable conduct and Nesbeth has been sus- Joseph Gardner Feltmate of Riverton, Pomerleau and Lefebvre were also or- pended with pay since then. N.S., died at the scene as an RCMP officer dered to pay $3.2 million and $1.3 million (CBC News) placed him under arrest for alleged assaults of respectively within five years, or face more employees at the Valley View Villa. years in prison. Dec 19 2014 Police say the man became unresponsive The three men ran a drug-trafficking cell in OTTAWA - Under pressure to prevent during his arrest, but have declined to provide northwestern Quebec from 2007 to 2010. Police future attacks on Parliament Hill after further details. allege the trio sold more than 640 kilograms of the Oct. 22 assault by a gunman, the The matter is being investigated by the cocaine worth an estimated $64 million. Mounties are bringing in rookie offic- ers to boost security. province’s Serious Incident Response Team. Dec 19 2014 The first new graduate from the RCMP The watchdog agency has said the RCMP Academy in Regina has already arrived for officer was attempting to arrest Feltmate un- EDMONTON - First-degree mur- duty as part of the force’s Hill security detail, der the provisions of the Involuntary Psychi- der charges have been re-activated the Citizen has learned. atric Treatment Act. against a suspect in the deaths of a “The RCMP will be deploying new con- Ron MacDonald, the agency’s director, pair of Edmonton-area seniors who stables upon graduation from the RCMP has declined to comment on what level of vanished in July 2010. Academy to assist with security measures force was used during the arrest as that will Police discovered the charred remains of on Parliament Hill,” Sgt. Greg Cox said in be part of the investigation. Lyle and Marie McCann’s motorhome but an email. “These graduates are fully trained (The Canadian Press) police officers, who have completed an inten- their bodies have never been found. sive 24 weeks of training.” RCMP announced Friday afternoon they Officers will serve eight weeks each be- Dec 19 2014 are proceeding with the case against Travis fore being deployed to their originally as- MONTREAL - Montrealer Maude Lau- Vader, 42. signed postings. The RCMP would not say rier was driving to work this week He had been charged two years after the how many of the rookie officers are joining when she was pulled over by a police McCanns disappeared but both counts were the Hill contingent, citing security concerns. officer, but instead of getting a ticket, stayed in March. Police had a year in which But Cox said “enhanced supervisory she was handed a $100 bill. to re-activate the charges. capacity will be in place on Parliament Hill “He told me that he will give me a gift “Vader was arrested without incident to provide guidance to our newer members, much as it would be during their first six that morning, and I was surprised,” Laurier and will be held in custody until he speaks to months out in the field.” He said all RCMP recalled. bail,’’ RCMP said in a news release. officers graduate with enough practical train- “And he gave me a $100 bill. So I was “He will appear to speak to these charges ing to work independently. really surprised a little bit. And after that a at Queen’s Bench in Edmonton at a date yet to The RCMP “are able to deploy resources little bit happy and emotional about that, just be determined. We will provide an update to quickly, and move personnel with common before Christmas.” that information when it becomes available.’’ training into situations where they are needed 5 most,” Cox said. Fantino said he travelled with Cote earlier “We send these new constables to pro- this year to attend D-Day anniversary ser- tect Parliament Hill with the same high-level vices and was honoured to know him. SUNDAY of confidence in their abilities as we have The accused appeared in court Saturday DECEMBER 21, 2014 when we deploy them to protect our Cana- but police weren’t identifying him because dian communities.” they are actively investigating several leads Other changes to Hill security are already from the public that came in after images of evident. The Usher of the Black Rod, for ex- the suspect were released, Staff Sgt. Michael Dec 21 2014 ample, is now armed at all times, including Haarbosch said Saturday. METRO VANCOUVER - The Delta Po- inside the Senate chamber, on the instruction The case, which has drawn national at- lice Department will end its online of the former Senate speaker. tention and outrage online, spurred up to 10 promotion of a bracelet campaign Guards in Senate areas of Centre Block additional tips, Haarbosch said. supporting an officer charged with have been seen wearing sidearms in recent “There were other tips from the public murder, after questions were raised weeks. House of Commons officers have and each and every one of those has to be fol- been armed for 15 years, although usually lowed up on,’’ he said. about possible bias. only one-third are armed at any time. Senate “The investigation... at this point, even The department plans to immediately re- guards were previously limited to carrying though charges have been laid, is still in the move items on its website and social media ac- expandable batons. early stages and there’s a lot of work to be counts advertising the sale of blue wristbands House and Senate security operations are done still.’’ in support of Const. Jordan MacWilliams, in the process of merging; each chamber his- torically thought it needed its own force in case the two ever came to blows. The two have since merged radio frequencies, but neither has a direct communications link with RCMP of- ficers patrolling the grounds outside. House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer has ordered a review of Hill security, and although a report is months away, some interim measures have been introduced, in- cluding extra screening of visitors. Some MPs have suggested broadening the screen- ing to the grounds outside. Zehaf-Bibeau had toured the Centre Block two weeks before he was shot dead in the building, the Citizen reported. The House officers’ union noted after the Oct. 22 shooting that its force had dropped from 240 officers several years ago to 205 due to budget cuts. It is not known whether its numbers will be boosted. (Ottawa Citizen) SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014

Dec 20 2014 OTTAWA - The Prime Minister is prais- ing police in Ottawa for swiftly making an arrest in connection with a home invasion that saw a 101-year-old vet- eran of D-Day tied up and robbed. Stephen Harper tweeted a thank you Saturday afternoon to police for “their swift work’’ as well as to members of the public who provided tips that led to the arrest. Police say a 59-year-old suspect was arrested Friday night after investigators re- ceived a tip earlier that day. The suspect faces a string of charges in- cluding attempted murder, robbery with vio- lence, forcible confinement, break and enter and using a credit card obtained by crime. Police say a man posing as a city employ- ee forced his way into the veteran’s condo on Thursday morning before making off with undisclosed items. Police have not identified the victim, but Harper and Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino have said he is Ernest Cote, one of the Canadian soldiers who landed on Juno Beach on June 6,1944. Fantino, a former police officer, took to Twitter on Saturday to thank investigators for making an arrest in connection with “such a despicable crime.’’ In a statement released on Thursday 6 Staff Sgt. Ryan Hall said Sunday. backup a day after Brinsley carried out what Up to September, when the latest 2014 “We are always working to address peo- he portrayed online as retaliation for the slay- tally was taken, police had reaped just $26.6 ple’s concerns, and if this is a concern for the ings of black men at the hands of white police million in general fine revenue, based on general public, and they’d like it removed officers. photo radar tickets and summonses issued by from our website, I have no problem doing Brinsley was black; the slain officers police officers in person. that,” Hall said. were Asian and Hispanic. Over that same time frame in 2013, po- MacWilliams is charged with second-de- The slayings come at a tense time. Police lice had written $27.4 million worth of tickets gree murder in the November 2012 death of nationwide have been criticized for months — but that number is deceiving, given that Mehrdad Bayrami, who was shot following a for their tactics, following Eric Garner’s a disastrous flood that same summer put a five-hour police standoff outside the Starlight death in New York City and Michael Brown’s dampener on fines and enforcement, adding Casino. fatal shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. up to an 18% drop in year-over-year revenue. The bracelets were created by the Delta Investigators were trying to determine In other words, 2014’s sagging ticket total Police Association, which doesn’t have its if Brinsley had taken part in any protests is even worse that it appears, because the dip own website. However, one is now being over the deaths of Brown and Garner, whose is measured against a year that was already built and information about purchasing the names he invoked in his online threat, or sim- considered a calamity, thanks to the flood. wristbands will be hosted there, said Hall, ply latched on to the cause for the final act in To really understand how far the ticket who is the association’s president. a violent rampage. tally has slipped in 2014, you have to com- The wristbands are emblazoned with the They said he travelled frequently between pare the current revenue pace to 2012, when words “honour,” “integrity,” “courage” and the South and New York, where he fathered a the police service collected a healthy $44 mil- “trust,” as well as MacWilliams’ badge num- child in Brooklyn, and had been in the city lion in traffic-fine funds. ber 2573. earlier in the week. That $44 million total also includes rev- Hall said the bracelets are not meant as Brinsley, 28, had at least 19 arrests in enue from red-light cameras, which in 2014 a protest against the Independent Investiga- Georgia and Ohio, spent two years in prison has hit $2.5 million as of September — tions Office, which reviewed the case, or for gun possession and had a troubled child- slightly ahead of the $2.3 million collected Crown prosecutors, who approved the mur- hood so violent that his mother was afraid of through September in 2013. der charge. him, police said. He ranted online about po- Altogether, Calgary’s police are run- “This wristband is just to help our mem- lice and the government and expressed “self- ning about 2% behind 2013’s flood-damp- ber, to show support for him through the court despair and anger at himself and where his ened total of $39.3 million, and if the pace process,” he said. life was,” Boyce said. continues, the total ticket revenue for 2014 A total of 2,500 wristbands were origi- Boyce said Brinsley’s mother believed he will be around $38.5 million. nally purchased by the police association to had undiagnosed mental problems and may That adds up to $5.5 million loss over 2012. be worn by fellow officers, but supplies were have been on medication at some point, but It’s not great news for a police force al- soon depleted as members of the public asked detectives were still trying to determine if he ready dealing with a tighter budget, after to join the campaign. The bracelets were sold had a mental illness. city council allowed for only ten new offic- for $2 each to cover the cost of production. On Saturday afternoon, Brinsley ap- ers over the next two years, compared to 90 MacWilliams is on paid leave from the force. proached a squad car from behind in Brook- rookies hired in the previous two. He is scheduled to appear in court next month. lyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighbourhood Of course, the official police line is that (Vancouver Sun) and fired four shots, killing Officers Rafael fewer drivers breaking the law is good news. Ramos and Wenjian Liu. He then ran into a (Sun Media) Dec 21 2014 subway station and committed suicide. NEW YORK - The gunman who fatally Hours earlier, Brinsley had shot and ambushed two police officers in their wounded his ex-girlfriend at her home outside MONDAY squad car had a long criminal record, Baltimore, then made threatening posts online, DECEMBER 22, 2014 a hatred for police and the govern- including a vow to put “wings on pigs” and ment, and an apparent history of men- references to the Brown and Garner cases. tal instability that included an attempt Baltimore-area police warned the New Dec 22 2014 to hang himself a year ago, authorities York department that Brinsley was in the said Sunday. city and bent on violence. But New York MONTREAL - A Montreal man is facing police were still getting the word out when a terrorism-related charge after police Brinsley struck. were tipped off by his family that he (AP) had recently become radicalized. Montreal police spokesman Ian La-

Dec 21 2014 freniere says authorities searched his apart- ment on Friday and found a city map that CALGARY - Traffic congestion wastes showed the co-ordinates of four different po- time and erodes patience — but the lice stations. tight squeeze on Calgary streets is The 21-year-old man is scheduled to ap- also putting a squeeze on the bottom pear in court this afternoon. line, for those in the business of issu- Lafreniere says no direct threats were made. ing tickets to speeding motorists. That’s the explanation offered by senior He called the arrest a “preventive’’ traffic cops, after Calgary recorded a unex- measure. Montreal police officers have been told to Moments before opening fire, Ismaaiyl pected drop in traffic fine revenue, perhaps be vigilant in the wake of the shooting deaths Brinsley approached people on the street in the first such fall in the force’s long history of three officers in the United States on the Brooklyn and asked them to follow him on of enforcing speed limits and other traffic weekend. Instagram, then told them, “Watch what I’m violations. going to do,” Chief of Detectives Robert “You can attribute some of that to con- Dec 22 2014 Boyce said. gestion,” said Staff Sgt. Paul Stacey of the A portrait of the Brooklyn-born gunman police Traffic Unit. The RCMP is seeking more money to emerged as big-city police departments and “There’s a lot of congestion on Calgary replace the dozens of Mounties who union leaders around the U.S. warned offic- streets it seems, and you can’t get a lot speed have dropped their regular duties to fo- ers to change their routines and insist on extra going when it’s that busy.” cus on new threats posed by Canadian 7 foreign fighters, federal sources said. joint appearance with Mr. Blaney and CSIS the Canadian city and will be arrested if he The move comes as Ottawa prepares to director Michel Coulombe. crosses the border. introduce legislation early in the new year “We have 63 active national-security inves- The U.S. border agency says the man making it easier to track and arrest Islamic tigations on 90 individuals who are related to stopped his car before the U.S. inspection State supporters and other militants. the travelling group, people who intend to go booth at the Ambassador Bridge crossing A spokesman for the RCMP confirmed [to countries like Iraq and Syria] or people who around 3 a.m. on Sunday and started walking that some traditional areas of policing have have returned,” Commissioner Paulson said. towards officers while waving what turned been affected by the renewed threats to na- The federal government went on to intro- out to be a replica handgun. tional security posed by travellers to conflict duce Bill C-44, a counterterrorism law aimed U.S. Customs and Border Protection says zones, sympathizers or jihadis. at boosting powers of the Canadian Security officers ordered the man to drop the weap- Mounties working on issues such as or- Intelligence Service. The bill has been on a on but he then pointed it in their direction, ganized crime, drugs and corruption have fast track through Parliament since its tabling prompting one officer to fire three shots and a been transferred to investigations into dozens after the Oct. 22 shooting, which came two second officer to fire a single round. of cases of Canadians who have returned to days after Martin Couture-Rouleau rammed The man was hit once in the arm and Canada after travelling in places like Iraq and into two Canadian Forces members in St- was treated at a hospital before being taken Syria, sources said. Jean-sur-Richelieu, killing one. into custody. Sources added the attack by Michael Mr. Blaney has said another bill with ex- Windsor police say just 20 minutes be- Zehaf-Bibeau on the War Memorial and panded law-enforcement powers for surveil- fore the incident at the border, the man was Parliament in Ottawa on Oct. 22 further lance, detention and arrest in counterterror- seen waving a handgun in a McDonald’s increased the shift in policing efforts, exac- ism cases is due for release in the near future. parking lot in the southwestern Ontario city, erbating holes in other areas of the national (Globe and Mail) and refused to drop the weapon when ordered police force. to by responding officers, pointing it at them “The RCMP has reallocated resources to Dec 22 2014 instead before fleeing. national security to address this key priority,” TORONTO - An Ontario man will be According to the police statement, the Sergeant Greg Cox said. “Employees from tried for a fourth time in September man asked the officers “Why haven’t you different parts of the country were transferred 2016 in the murder of a nursing as- shot me yet?’’ to high-risk traveller files from other federal sistant who was killed 33 years ago in The statement says the officers tried to policing areas, such as organized crime, to the Hamilton area. talk the man into surrendering, but he got the five INSETs [Integrated National Secu- Diane Werendowicz died in 1981. back into his SUV and drove off before the rity Enforcement Teams] located across the She was dragged into a ravine, allegedly officers could get back to their cruisers. country.” sexually assaulted, strangled and dumped “Officers were faced with what they Sgt. Cox did not confirm the RCMP’s in a creek. thought was a deadly threat and they showed request for increased funding, but added that Robert Badgerow was arrested in her tremendous restraint while re-assessing the situ- Commissioner Bob Paulson regularly meets death in 1998 and was convicted of first- ation. Although at one point, police considered with Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney. degree murder several years later, but the the use of lethal forces, they opted not to,’’ said “They discuss a variety of issues, includ- verdict was overturned on appeal. Windsor deputy police Chief Vince Power. ing the force’s budget, programs and overall A new trial was ordered but ended in a “These types of situations are dynamic.’’ direction,” the RCMP spokesman said. mistrial in 2010 when a jury was unable to Sgt. Cox refused to state how many reach a verdict. Badgerow’s third trial also Dec 22 2014 officers have been reassigned, saying that resulted in a hung jury. TORONTO - In the wake of the fatal the “number of employees fluctuates on a He then applied for, and was granted, a shooting of two New York police offic- regular basis.” stay of proceedings when the Crown indi- ers over the weekend, the president of In an appearance in front of the public cated it intended to try him for a fourth time. the Toronto Police union is calling for safety committee of the House earlier this That stay was set aside by Ontario’s Court of an end to online “anti-police rhetoric” month, Mr. Blaney said he was “looking Appeal in April, and a new trial was ordered. that has reached a “fever pitch.” forward to coming back to this committee Badgerow then tried to take his case to to seek support for additional funding to in- the country’s highest court, but the Supreme crease our safety and for the evolving threat Court of Canada denied his leave to appeal. of terrorism.” A government official, speaking on con- Dec 22 2014 dition of anonymity, said on Sunday that the DETROIT - A 22-year-old Canadian “door is open” to additional funding to secu- man who was shot by U.S. border rity agencies such as the RCMP and the Ca- guards after pointing what appeared nadian Security Intelligence Service. to be a gun at them is facing weapons- “We are working to give additional tools related charges in Windsor, Ont. to security agencies,” the official said. “All agencies and departments want more money … but some demands make more sense.” “There are real consequences,” Mike Mc- Still, the official said the effects of the Cormack, Toronto Police Association presi- new legislation will need to be analyzed dent, told the Star Monday. before looking at the request for additional “People are posting this stuff all over funding. about cops being the enemy. and then some- “The measures will be designed to allow body acts on that, and everybody goes ‘oh my the security agencies to make arrests more God, how does this happen?’ Well, to me, it quickly,” the official said. “This could poten- doesn’t seem to be that surprising.” tially help to clear a number of these national- McCormack’s comments come one week security cases more quickly.” after the Toronto Police Services Board de- In October, Commissioner Paulson laid Windsor police say the man, who is cur- cided not to discipline its chair, Alok Mukher- out the extent of the work being conducted rently in custody in Detroit, faces weapons jee, following a controversial post to his Fa- by the Mounties during an appearance at the and dangerous driving charges in connec- cebook page about police-involved shootings public safety committee of the House, in a tion with an incident just minutes earlier in in the U.S. 8 Mukherjee’s post - shared on his person- “Although this incident turned out to be away, jumped a fence, and was then caught. al Facebook page earlier this month - was a a false alarm, we’d always encourage people “The first officer caught up with the man meme created by activist group Occupy Wall to give us a call if they think an animal is in while he lay injured on the ground and ar- Street suggesting the number of American cas- need of help.” (BBC News) rested him. He was soon joined by two other ualties caused by police each year is far greater officers,” MacDonald writes. than terrorist group ISIS or the Ebola virus. On Sunday night, a day after two New Dec 22 2014 The man’s ankle was broken and he said York Police Department officers were gunned BRAMPTON, Ont. - The province’s police beat him up. down in their cruisers in Brooklyn, the Toron- Special Investigations Unit has been “However, SIRT investigators saw no to Police Association sent an email blast to called in after a three-vehicle colli- evidence of that when they met with him the Toronto officers urging them to “remain vigi- sion northwest of Toronto that left a next day, and evidence from civilian witness- lant and exercise caution” in light of “contin- woman seriously injured. es indicated the police had little physical con- ued anti-police rhetoric.” The police watchdog agency says the in- tact with the man,” MacDonald concludes. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, had a long cident took place at about 12:30 a.m. Mon- “The facts of the case demonstrated that criminal history, had been treated for mental day as Peel Regional Police were trying to the police had grounds to arrest the male, health issues and had shot and wounded his investigate a van in Brampton. ex-girlfriend outside Baltimore hours before It’s alleged that the van fled from the and the injury was caused by the male’s de- coming to New York to attack the police. area but was then involved in a collision cision to run from police and jump a fence. In a column published in the Toronto Sun with two other vehicles at an intersection. There are no grounds to consider any charges Monday, McCormack said the New York am- A 49-year-old woman, who was the driv- against any officer in the matter.” bush was anti-police sentiment “taken to the er of one of those vehicles, suffered serious (CBC News) extreme.” injuries and was transported to Brampton “Now we know that there are conse- Civic Hospital and then to Sunnybrook Hos- Dec 23 2014 quences when individuals, groups and politi- pital for treatment. OTTAWA - Treasury Board President cians post irresponsible anti-police rhetoric, The SIU says it has assigned five inves- for the sole purpose of inflaming an already tigators and three forensic investigators and Tony Clement says there’s a reason volatile situation,” McCormack wrote. a collision reconstructionist to probe the cir- some federal data can’t be released to In an interview Monday, McCormack said cumstances of the incident. the public in electronic format. he is referring to Mukherjee’s post and to oth- Clement says people might alter it and ers depicting police officers “as the enemy.” Dec 22 2014 spread falsehoods. “(When) we have people that are in po- MONTREAL - The president of Mon- And Clement, who’s the minister respon- sitions of power and influence, who have treal’s police union says officers here sible for freedom of information, says there’s respect within the community, posting or are a target for attacks because it’s a a fear people could “create havoc’’ by chang- re-posting those things, I’m just really con- “multi-ethnic” city. ing the statistical information. cerned about that,” he said. Yves Francoeur told Radio-Canada that Federal agencies hold a vast array of data Mukherjee did not respond to a request “police officers are not immune to the pos- for comment Monday. sibility of attack because of the ‘multi-ethnic’ on everything from immigrants held in deten- (Toronto Star) character of Montreal.” tion to use of force by RCMP officers. When asked about his statements on Some researchers have requested data Dec 22 2014 CBC’s Daybreak, Francoeur said radicalized kept in electronic format, only to receive it as A woman was left “mortified” after Islamic attacks are a factor the police need to a paper printout. calling in the Scottish SPCA to rescue consider. That makes it virtually impossible for the an injured parrot that turned out to be He said the police have good relation- recipient to sort and filter the data to identify a Christmas hat. ships with Muslim leaders, but that radical patterns and trends. attacks are a concern for the police force. The Access to Information Act says fed- “We have good co-operation with those communities, who have to face some very ex- eral agencies must provide timely access to tremist individuals in their own communities, records in the format requested. but we’re working with them.” Clement could not point to a specific in- Francoeur said there’s still an ongoing in- stance in which federal data had been altered. vestigation into the man arrested on Friday for allegedly making threats against police, but he Dec 23 2014 believes the man was motivated by religion. SYDNEY, N.S. - Nova Scotia’s Serious “I know from the investigation, there was Incident Response Team says there a relation with religion, Islamist.” The charity was called to the scene in A spokesman for the Montreal police de- are no grounds to consider charges Aberdeen after what a driver believed to be partment has not confirmed that Islam, or any against police after a man broke his a parrot was seen in the middle of the road. religion, was involved in that arrest. ankle during an arrest in July. However, when they got there they (CBC News) In a report released today, investigators discovered it was a woolly hat. say a 27-year-old man who was a suspect in a Animal rescue officer Karen Hogg said: home invasion in Sydney, N.S., was arrested “It’s fair to say the lady who called was mor- TUESDAY by Cape Breton Regional Police on July 2. tified when I called her back.” DECEMBER 23, 2014 The report says the man tried to flee from She said: “When she was on her way an officer who left his vehicle and chased the home from the shops, she thought she saw an suspect near some homes on George Street. injured bird on the road. Dec 23 2014 The man jumped a fence and injured his “The hat has green holly which she as- A man who accused Cape Breton Re- sumed was the body and a red bobble sticking ankle before he was caught by the officer who out which she thought was the parrot’s head. gional Police of beating him was in was then joined by two other officers. “As the lady was driving at the time she fact injured when he fled police, ac- The man says he was beaten by police, wasn’t able to stop and get a good look so cording to a report released Tuesday. but SIRT investigators say they saw no evi- called to alert us. On July 2, the man became a suspect in a dence of that when they met him the next day “When I got there it was a nice surprise to Sydney home invasion committed the day be- and witnesses say police had little physical find there wasn’t an animal in danger and I must fore. Police knew the man and spotted him at contact with the man. admit it gave me a bit of Christmas cheer.” 12:40 a.m. on Townsend and George streets. The report says the officers had grounds Ms Hogg added: “The hat is now being An officer left his car and tried to stop the to arrest the man and his injury was caused safely looked after at our centre in Drumoak. suspect, Ron MacDonald says in his Serious In- If anyone recognises the hat they are wel- by his decision to run from police and jump come to come and collect it. cident Response Team report. The suspect ran a fence. 9 Dec 23 2014 traffic stop over three weeks ago is ex- Officers responded to a 911 call early FOND DU LAC, Sask. - A Mountie in periencing medical complications. Dec. 15 and arrested the woman, transport- Saskatchewan is facing charges of RCMP say Cpl. Jean Rene Michaud has ing her to jail in a police wagon. accessing and possessing child por- been airlifted from Kamloops to a Metro Const. Brian Montague says in a news nography. Vancouver hospital with his wife by his side. release Tuesday evening that the woman was The 31-year-old officer, who has been Michaud underwent two surgeries in the not responsive when the vehicle arrived at with the force for more than four years, was first few days after being shot, but RCMP the jail. stationed at Fond du Lac. haven’t indicated what kind of complica- He says paramedics were called and she RCMP say computer devices were tions the officer is experiencing. was taken to hospital. seized during a search of the man’s home In the early morning hours of Dec. 3, Montague says the woman died in hospi- in the remote northwestern community on Michaud was shot and injured by someone tal on Tuesday but the cause of death is not Oct. 16. inside a vehicle he had stopped in a Kam- yet known. He was removed from the detachment loops residential area. He says the Independent Investigations and suspended with pay, but charges were Within hours, 36-year-old Kenneth Office, which is the province’s police watch- not laid until yesterday following an inves- Knudson was arrested and faces charges off dog, and the coroners service are looking tigation by the Saskatchewan Internet Child attempted murder, aggravated assault and into the death. Exploitation Unit. two firearms-related charges. Const. Aiden Arthur Pratchett has been A statement from Supt. Brad Mueller, released following an appearance before a the officer in charge at the Kamloops de- justice of the peace and is to appear in Prince tachment, says the family wants to express WEDNESDAY Albert provincial court on Jan. 28. its gratitude for the continued outpouring of DECEMBER 24, 2014 RCMP Supt. Alfredo Bangloy calls the well wishes, but asks for privacy at this dif- allegations extremely disturbing. ficult time. Dec 24 2014 Dec 23 2014 Dec 23 2014 MONTREAL - Luka Rocco Magnotta is OTTAWA - The federal government WINNIPEG - The RCMP says its seri- off to prison for life with no chance of is appealing a judge’s decision that ous and organized crime unit has ar- parole for 25 years for the murder and it was “unreasonable’’ for the top rested a veteran Mountie in Manitoba dismemberment of Chinese student Mountie to deny a staff sergeant’s on 13 drug and weapons charges. Jun Lin. bid for promotion because of a long- Police say Const. Daniel Daudet was ar- A Montreal jury yesterday found Mag- dismissed allegation of misconduct. rested in a rural municipality southeast of notta guilty of first-degree murder and four In a ruling last month, Federal Court Winnipeg. other counts in the 2012 slaying. Justice John O’Keefe directed RCMP com- He faces possession of cocaine, pos- The jurors deliberated for eight days be- missioner Bob Paulson to do as much as he session of a prohibited firearm obtained by fore returning the five guilty verdicts. could to ensure Staff Sgt. Walter Boogaard crime and other charges. Magnotta’s lawyer, Luc Leclair, contin- was elevated to the rank of inspector. RCMP say Daudet, who is 42, has been ued to argue that Magnotta is schizophrenic, Boogaard, 51, has been unsuccessful in a Mountie for 13 years. but said no decision has been made on a pos- obtaining a promotion due to an episode 14 He has been released from custody and sible appeal. years ago in which his gun was stolen by two is to appear in Steinbach provincial court on The 32-year-old Toronto native didn’t women. Feb. 19. Police say he has been suspended testify at the trial and he had nothing to say The women said Boogaard had picked with pay. before sentencing. them up and was trying to buy sex from one Lin’s father says Magnotta’s fate - years when the other nicked the firearm - a version Dec 23 2014 to reflect on his crimes behind bars - is not of events the veteran Mountie denies. VICTORIA - Prosecutors in British unlike the future he, Jun Lin’s mother and his Boogaard’s account - that the gun was Columbia say they won’t lay charges younger sister face. stolen from his vehicle - was accepted when against a Fraser Valley police officer the matter was addressed by the national po- accused of breaking a man’s finger lice force at the time. during an arrest. Boogaard’s lawyer, Paul Champ, says a The Criminal Justice Branch says there modern police force should be above side- is no substantial likelihood the officer will lining someone’s career over innuendo. be convicted for any offence related to an in- cident on Jan. 28, 2014, in Abbotsford, B.C. Dec 23 2014 On that day, a report of domestic vio- EDMONTON - The suspect in a long- lence drew members of the Abbotsford Po- running murder case involving the lice Department to a local home, where the deaths of two Alberta seniors is to be man was arrested. released on $25,000 bail. The man alleged the arresting officer Travis Vader, who is 42, was re-arrested used excessive force while handcuffing him on first-degree murder charges last week. and as a result broke the small finger on his He was originally charged in 2012, two left hand. years after Lyle and Marie McCann were last The Criminal Justice Branch says it had seen fuelling up their motorhome in their reason to discount the complainant’s evi- Dec 24 2014 hometown of St. Albert, north of Edmonton. dence because he told others he’d broken the TORONTO - Edward Greenspan, one Vader was supposed to stand trial earlier finger earlier while skateboarding. of Canada’s most famous criminal this year, but the charges were stayed. Prosecutors say the man and his sister, lawyers, has died. He is to remain on house arrest while out who was a witness, had been drinking alco- His law firm, Greenspan Partners LLP, on bail, but further details presented at the hol, other police described the arrest as un- confirmed his death Wednesday morning. hearing are covered by a publication ban. eventful, and the man’s girlfriend heard no Greenspan represented a number of high- The McCann’s bodies have never been complaint of injury at the time. profile clients, including one-time media bar- found, but authorities believe the couple is on Conrad Black and former theatre mogul dead. Dec 23 2014 Garth Drabinsky. VANCOUVER - Vancouver police say A number of individuals in the legal com- Dec 23 2014 an investigation is underway into munity are mourning Greenspan’s death, call- KAMLOOPS, B.C. - The Kamloops, the in-custody death of a 58-year-old ing him a “giant’’ and one of the legal profes- B.C., Mountie who was shot during a woman. sion’s best. 10