Posted on 03/03/2005 4:51:33 PM PST by fanfan
4 Mounties killed at marijuana site Last Updated Thu, 03 Mar 2005 19:33:25 EST CBC News
MAYERTHORPE, ALTA. - Four RCMP officers were killed Thursday during an apparent raid on a marijuana grow operation in northwestern Alberta.
"It's my sad duty to inform you that four RCMP officers, four brave young members have been killed in the line of duty," RCMP Commanding Officer Bill Sweeney told reporters at a late-afternoon news conference. The Quonset hut that police suspect held the marijuana growing operation in Rochfort Bridge, Alta.
He said a fifth person described as "a male suspect" had been found dead at the scene.
Earlier in the day, Solicitor General Harvey Cenaiko told CBC News that details of the trouble that broke out Tuesday morning at a farm near Rochfort Bridge were sketchy.
"As far as we know, there's four officers not responding to their radios, so there is an indication that something is serious here," Cenaiko said.
"[The situation] is still active and they have a number of resources that are on scene or going to the scene."
George Vanderburg, the provincial politician who represents the area, says he and Cenaiko were briefed on the situation around midday Thursday. News vehicles were kept away from the scene through the day while police investigated.
He could not provide further details except to say it was a "very serious and very tragic" situation.
Cenaiko's office had earlier said at least two officers had been wounded when gunfire broke out during a raid on an alleged hydroponic marijuana operation.
There was widespread speculation of a hostage taking involving the person or people allegedly running the drug operation.
Sgt. Rick Oncescu, who is with the RCMP in Calgary, said two SWAT teams were called to the area.
A military spokesman said about 20 soldiers and two armoured vehicles were sent to the area after police called for military assistance at about midday.
Rochfort Bridge is located near the 1,700-resident town of Mayerthorpe, where the RCMP detachment is based, about 130 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.
20 soldiers and 2 armored vehicles? What happened, did Canada expand their army?
Gee. To think a poor little plant has so much power.
RIGHT ON! I was just thinking if they would just make MJ legal like alcohol, for adults. Kids already get it any time they want it any way. I said one time "I wouldn't even know where to buy pot" My sweet little teenage daughter said "I can get you any thing you want at the high school" Probably true. She wasn't a druggie but she knew who was.
I added the words you forgot. You're welcome.
How origional and appropriate.
Thank you very much. I try to be "origional".
what are you smoking?
see #37
Some friends were driving up in that part of the world and stopped at a farmhouse to ask directions. The farmer and his wife fed them dinner and offered to put them up for the night, they were so glad to have someone to talk to....it's pretty remote.
I concur. MJ is already available to anyone that really wants it, not unlike prohibition at all. These officers lost their lives over something that should be legalized and regulated, bottom line. Take out the criminal element and these officers would returning home to their families as we speak. WOD flamesuit donned.
Hey, that gun registration idea worked great, didn't it?
Yeah. They found the killer and the gun.
I don't mean to detract from the loss of the Mounties by saying this.
Don't they have any real criminals up there?
I mean like muggers and buggerers and rapists and murderers and I mean real criminals?
Oh yes, we have real criminals...Jean Chretien, Paul Martin, Jean Carle, Alex Himelfarb, Alphonso Gagliano, etc.
I don't think they smoke drugs though.
Marijuana seems to be the least of his problems.
"Not meaning any disrespect for the fallen officers, but what the hell are they still chasing cannibus growers and smokers for?"
I'd guess they were enforcing the law - growing pot is still against the law in Canada, and even if the new proposed law decriminalizing possession of small amounts is passed, the same bill increases the penalties for cultivation. And, as this incident shows, while pot users may be pretty peaceful, those who grow the stuff in quantity can be very violent, either in an attempt to protect their operations, or to avoid being caught.
OTOH, if the stuff was completely legalized, these 4 RCMP officers would probably still be alive. I doubt that tougher laws against cultivation will make this problem (of grow operations) go away, it'll just ensure that only the most fearless, dedicated criminals are involved in it.
What makes you say that?
Joe Boucher wanted them to go after the "real" criminals instead -- robbers, murderers, rapists. Those people aren't any more friendly than scumbag drug dealers.
Yeah, well, they weren't killed by robbers, murderers or rapists, they were killed by a well-armed pot grower. Of course, it's entirely possible, from the sound of what's known about this guy, that they would have eventually ended up in a stand-off with him somewhere, sometime, anyway.
Prohibition's a dangerous game. The officers knew the risks. So it goes.
You probably think guns kill people too.
Smuggling banned substances has been a violent business for thousands of years. Profit sustains smugglers, not the joy of marijuana.
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