Pubdate: Sat, 24 Mar 2001
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2001, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  333 King St. E., Toronto, Ontario M5A 3X5 Canada
Fax: (416) 947-3228
Website: http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoSun/
Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/newsgroups.html
Author: Sam Pazzano

COP TRIAL SINKS DRUG CHARGES

Cocaine trafficking charges against a convicted pimp were dropped yesterday 
because there are outstanding charges against the police officers involved 
in his bust.

While an appeal court was throwing out the charges against Mark Morgan, 35, 
in another court were seven of eight drug cops charged with stealing 
informant money.  Their case was put over until April 12.

More than 50 drug cases involving the accused officers have been dropped in 
the past 15 months.

Former chief David Boothby launched an internal audit in 1999 after 
complaints of violence, manipulation of evidence and theft of money.

Staff Sgt. John Schertzer, Det.-Const. Steve Correia and Consts. Jerry 
Cieslik, Jim Leslie, Sean McGuinness, Joe Miched, Ray Pollard and Jonathan 
Reid face a total of 75 criminal charges and 98 Police Services Act charges.

Crown Attorney Fergus O'Donnell told an appeal court that trafficking 
charges against Morgan would be stayed because of "disclosure problems." 
Morgan had originally been sentenced to six years in a 1997 trial.
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