Pubdate: Sun, 12 Mar 2000 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2000 The Toronto Star Contact: One Yonge St., Toronto ON, M5E 1E6 Fax: (416) 869-4322 Website: http://www.thestar.com/ Forum: http://www.thestar.com/editorial/disc_board/ Author: John Duncanson, Police Issues Reporter ECSTASY LINKED TO OFFICER'S ARREST Bust involved sales of rave drug, police sources say The underground drug culture at popular raves and the drug Ecstasy are behind a massive police crackdown that has resulted in several arrests, including a Toronto police officer, sources say. While Toronto police chief Julian Fantino is tight-lipped about the ongoing police operation that has resulted in dozens of charges, police sources say the case involves allegations a Toronto officer was selling Ecstasy in clubs. The officer was then using information about drug suspects to set them up for drug rip-offs, sources say. Contacted yesterday, Fantino would only say the case involved "a drug sub-culture." He was adamant that no other police officers were involved. Michael Clarke, the lawyer representing the charged officer, said he only met his client Friday and did not wish to make any public comment. But Clarke did say he thought Fantino also shouldn't be making any comment "with this matter before a court." Fantino, who just took over as police chief of Toronto on Monday, reiterated yesterday his zero tolerance policy when it comes to dealing with alleged dirty cops, saying he would not like to pay them while their court case is ongoing. Constable Darin Cooper, a 10-year member of the Toronto force assigned to 55 Division's criminal investigation bureau, was arrested early Friday morning along with six co-accused. The charges, stemming from a series of fake police drug shakedowns and home invasion robberies in Toronto and York Region, include attempted murder, breach of trust, impersonating police, armed robbery, conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, possession of unregistered restricted weapons, assault, break and enter, and possession of property obtained by crime. Among the items seized by officers from both Toronto and York Region were a real Toronto police badge, fake police identification, body armour, 25 handguns - one of which was issued by the Toronto force - $130,000 cash, six luxury vehicles and about 11 kilograms of marijuana valued at $125,000. Others arrested were: Bobby Manchev, 31, Elie Salama, 24, Peter Maroulis, 29, Nick Koulias, 29, and Mike Wassilyn, 27, all of Toronto, and Kristopher Della-Pia, 22, of no fixed address. The seven suspects appeared in a Newmarket court Friday afternoon. Following the court appearance, Cooper was taken for medical attention. His lawyer would not say how his client obtained the cuts and bruises visible to those in the courtroom. "I can't really comment on that," Clarke said. All seven suspects were ordered held in custody pending bail hearings. With files from Tracy Huffman - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck