Pubdate: Tue, 15 Mar 2005
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/TorontoSun/home.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Ian Robertson, Toronto Sun
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)

COP ON GROW-OP RAP

York Officer, Husband Charged After Home Raid

A YORK Region cop accused of having a marijuana grow op and cocaine in her 
rural home has been suspended with pay. Const. Nadine Morcos was arrested 
after colleagues reported seizing drugs in her husband's vehicle, police 
said yesterday.

The arrest of Morcos, 34, who was transferred to the Richmond Hill 
detective office last month in "an administration capacity," shocked 
colleagues, Chief Armand La Barge said.

An eight-year member of the force, mostly on uniform patrol, Marcos 
surrendered at No. 5 police station one day after investigators raided the 
couple's home in the Town of Georgina and seized marijuana, cocaine, "other 
controlled substances and drug paraphernalia," Const. Laurie Perks alleged 
in a statement.

The amount of marijuana and other drugs was not revealed, but La Barge said 
it was not as large as officers have seized from other York homes filled 
with plants.

"This is very unsettling, not only for me as the chief, but for every 
member of the force," he said in an interview. "Our service is made up of 
dedicated people. When incidents like this happen, it has an impact on all 
of us."

He said a thorough investigation is continuing.

Drug and vice unit officers obtained a search warrant for the couple's 
house after cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, a large number of steroid pills 
and a small amount of hashish was allegedly found on Friday in a vehicle 
driven by her husband, Perks said.

She said the officer's husband had just left his business, Herbal Health 
Food in Newmarket, when officers pulled over his vehicle in nearby East 
Gwillimbury. He was held in custody while investigators drove to the 
couple's home.

Morcos was arrested by Professional Standards Bureau officers. She and her 
husband, Andrew Marter, are charged with possession of a controlled 
substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Marter, 36, faces a total of nine charges, including four trafficking 
offences, four counts of possessing a controlled substance and one count of 
producing a controlled substance.

Morcos was released and ordered to appear in court on April 19.
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