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.
Ain't the sharpest knife, are you? Pictures you should be able to understand. He said your have your head up your tush. That was a perfect response to your goofy analogy.
my apologies
Freely given, freely accepted.
If the Treasury Agent that died raiding Carbine Williams' still is counted as having died from alcohol.
It wasn't the MJ that caused all these men to lose their lives, it was greed. She is a more violent mistress than pot could ever hope to be.
No, what I want is for a redirection of limited resources and energies to go towards a more important aspect of enforcing the laws.
Sort of like stopping a guy not wearing a seat belt while some hood next to you is steeling a car.
You can't be that stupid.
YOU'RE the one who blamed inanimate matter for the death of the Mounties, not me. I say, when guns/drugs are outlawed only outlaws have guns/deal drugs.
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