Cop Says He Checked to See If Car Was Stolen
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The Pickering 24 PAGES ✦ Pressrun 48,900 ✦ Metroland Durham Region Media Group ✦ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2006 ✦ Optional delivery $6 / Newsstand $1 OPENING Durham Daily News A look at accessibility DOORS Every weekday at noon Finding a job can be a tough road to follow Page 11 Pickering set to light the tree A RAINY DAY FOR FOOTBALL PICKERING — Let the holiday season begin! The City of Pickering is having its annual Winterfest tree lighting event at City Hall on Friday, Dec., 8 at 7:30 p.m. Winterfest features the Smudge Fundaes performing their holiday show, the Pickering Community Concert Band performing holiday classics, a huge fireworks show, the big Santa and, last but not least, the Christmas tree sparkles for the first time. The City of Pickering would like to thank local sponsors, includ- ing the News Advertiser. When attending any of the Winterfest events, the City would appreciate it if you brought a non-perishable food item. For more information on this event, contact Jody Morris at 905- 420-4620 ext., 2064 or visit the City of Pickering website at cityofpick- ering.com/greatevents. AJ Groen/ News Advertiser photo NORTH YORK — Broc Elliot, a running back with the Pickering High School Trojans, eludes a tackler as he runs for a long gain in the second quarter of the Metro Bowl semifinal game Friday against Newmarket’s Huron Heights Warriors. The defending Metro Bowl champs defeated the Warriors 16-0 35.2//-3s7).$/73s2//&).' Manufacturer of at Esther Shriner Stadium. The Trojans play in the final next week. See page 17 for a story on the game. SUNROOMS & WINDOWS Visit our showroom 239 Station St., Ajax Cop says he checked to see if car was stolen 905-686-2445 was stolen, evidence presented informs him a computer check of when a fellow officer, concerned Pickering officer claims Thursday shows. his car’s serial number revealed it about the expired dealer plates Blaisdale he would have been On videotape seen by jurors at was stolen. on his 1998 Mercedes, conducted his trial in Whitby, Terrance “Ben” “I’m not going to drive around a computer check and learned it MONTESSORI ‘nuts’ to drive around McColm insists he checked the ve- in a stolen car,” he says on the tape. had been stolen from York Region School est. 1969 in a stolen Mercedes hicle to ensure its legality himself, “What do you think -- I’m nuts?” a year and a half earlier. and claimed it would be “nuts” for During the interview Mr. Mc- Police seized the Mercedes and OPEN HOUSE By Jeff Mitchell him to knowingly drive around in Colm says he was loaned the car when Mr. McColm was given a Sat. Jan. 27, 2007 at 7:00 pm Staff Writer a hot Mercedes. by his friend Joselito “Joey” Abad, ride to his Port Perry home an offi- 415 Toynevale Rd. Pickering DURHAM — A Durham cop ex- “You’ve got to be f---ing kidding a Peel Region auto body shop cer found another stolen vehicle, a pressed disbelief when he was ar- me!” Mr. McColm exclaims when owner he had known for years. Toyota van, in his driveway. When 905-509-5005 rested and informed the car he’d Sergeant Dean Bertrim of Dur- Police launched an investiga- www.blaisdale.com 12 months - grade 8 been driving for more than a year ham’s professional standards unit tion into Mr. McColm in April 2003 ✦ See Officer, Page 2 P PAGE 2 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, December 3, 2006 durhamregion.com Taunton Road speeders ‘disgust’ local homeowners Region says six intersections says anyone driving those speeds would “get “We pay high taxes and all we get is gar- tally-sensitive land and water courses in the the finger. I don’t want a ticket and I don’t bage pick-up. We’re on our own water and Church and Taunton area. to get traffic lights want to get killed. Common sense does help own septic. Once in a while, they clear the “We have to have their approval and bless- a lot.” Ms. Winda refers to the stretch be- culvert out,” Ms. Winda adds. ing. We were hoping that job would be done By Keith Gilligan tween Brock Road and Westney as “mad”, One man recently rolled his car, taking this year,” he adds. Staff Writer noting there isn’t any stoplight between the out a sign the Windas had. Fortunately, the The hope now is to go to tender later this DURHAM — Residents along Taunton two. “I know people have done a hard days’ man walked away from his vehicle unhurt. year and have the widening completed late Road have long known about speeding mo- work and they want to get home, but they Ms. Winda says if she had been going to her next year. torists, having vehicles end up on their prop- want to get home in one piece. It’s unreal,” postal box, “I could have been killed.” “As part of that project, this intersection erty or hearing the distinctive sound of cars she states. Greg Borchuk, traffic manager for Durham will get signals,” Mr. Borchuk says, adding colliding. “They don’t think we need a stoplight Region, says widening and rehabilitation the signals can’t be put in until the widening “It’s not the Indianapolis Speedway, but if at Church and Taunton,” she says. “People work for Taunton was to be done from just work is completed. you sit here for one hour, you think it is. It’s are going crazy. If I wanted to get out of my east of Church to Brock Street in Whitby. There are about six intersections along disgusting,” says Myra Winda. driveway in an emergency, I couldn’t do it.” The Region needs the approval of the Taunton that will be signalized, Mr. Borchuk Although they don’t need another remind- She adds if police were to stop all the mo- Toronto and Region Conservation Author- states. He notes the intersection at Church er, residents got one on Tuesday around 7:45 torists speeding, “they would be rich. ity to do the work because of environmen- “currently doesn’t meet the warrants.” a.m. when a motorist driving a Honda east- bound on Taunton was struck by a Sunfire trying to make a lefthand turn from Church Officer says car was on loan from auto body shop owner Street onto Taunton. A 13-year old girl in the Sunfire suffered minor injuries and was taken to Rouge Val- ✦ Officer from page 1 concerned when more than a year passed. other police property upon his arrest. ley Ajax and Pickering hospital for observa- He said he himself used a police computer When he took the witness stand Sgt. tions, says Durham Regional Police spokes- officers searched Mr. Abad’s shop in Missis- system to check on the Mercedes. Bertrim said he had conducted a search man Paul McCurbin. sauga they discovered a Nissan Pathfinder “When I first got the vehicle the first thing to find out if any inquiries had been made The investigation continues and there’s no Mr. McColm had reported stolen in 2000. I did was run it,” Mr. McColm says on the through the police computer system to word on possible charges, he adds. Mr. McColm and Mr. Abad are now stand- tape. “I ran the thing specifically to make check on the status of the Mercedes, and The Windas live on Taunton, east of ing trial in Whitby for possession of prop- sure it was clean and I could drive it.” found none for the period when Mr. Mc- Church. erty obtained by crime. Mr. McColm is also Mr. McColm appears incredulous when Colm said he had made his. Truckers are “doing a speed you wouldn’t charged with fraud for allegedly filing a false Sgt. Bertrim asks if he’s involved in a stolen No checks were made until Durham po- believe it. They do these speeds because they report of the theft of the Nissan. car ring. lice began investigating the vehicle, he said. know they won’t get stopped,” Ms. Winda In the interview seen by jurors Thursday “I’m a cop!” he exclaims. “I’m not involved “No searches had ever been done until says. Mr. McColm tells Sgt. Bertrim he was loaned in anything.” April 11, 2003,” Sgt. Bertrim said. The speed limit along Taunton varies be- the Mercedes by Mr. Abad while his own Mr. McColm was suspended with pay and The trial, presided over by Superior Court tween 60 and 80 kilometres, but Ms. Winda vehicle was being fixed, and that he wasn’t ordered to hand in his badge, uniforms and Justice David Salmers, continues. ECOTRITION SNAK SHACK Rabbit & guinea pig log. 100% edible. Receive a Made with fresh alfalfa & golden 99 honey. Reg. $14.97 ...............................11 99 Hamster log. Reg. $9.97 .................................7 99 $ GIFT Hamster hideaway. 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