Pubdate: Wed, 23 Mar 2005
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2005, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Jeff Gray
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

YORK BUSTS PUSH GROW-OPS INTO THE CITY, POLICE SAY

The explosion in the number of marijuana-growing operations in Toronto is 
partly because of the success of a pot crackdown in York Region, Toronto's 
top drug officer says.

While Toronto Police are asking for funding for a new, 14-strong grow-house 
squad, their neighbours to the north already have a dedicated team of 
officers. And the "proactive" approach by police in York Region may be 
pushing some operators into Toronto, Staff-Inspector Dan Hayes said in an 
interview yesterday.

"They've been directing efforts at their [marijuana] grow problem that last 
couple of years," Staff Insp. Hayes said. "They've had good success, and I 
think have probably displaced quite a number of their criminals south of 
Steeles."

Toronto Police say they busted just 81 grow houses in 2002, almost doubling 
to 140 in 2003, and increasing again to 320 in 2004. An estimated two to 10 
times as many may still be out there, police believe.

In York Region, police have taken down 30 grow operations so far in 2005, 
and have dismantled between 170 and 200 in each of the past three years, 
Constable Laurie Perks said. Their team responds to tips and actively seeks 
out grow operations, she said. "It's an aggressive pursuit for us."

In Toronto, Staff Insp. Hayes said, police currently do not have the 
resources to do much beyond dealing with grow operations when they are 
discovered in the course of another investigation, such as a 
break-and-enter or a fire. The proposal for a team of special grow-op cops 
in Toronto, who would be equipped with a $35,000 infrared sensor and other 
equipment, is still before the Toronto Police Services Board. The team 
would cost more than $2-million to set up and run in its first year.

Staff Insp. Hayes said he hoped city council would either come up with 
emergency funding to start the team this year, or pledge the cash for next 
year's police budget.

Staff Insp. Hayes advised citizens who suspect that their neighbours are 
growing marijuana not to imitate the tactics of Scarborough-Agincourt 
Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis and Councillor Michael Del Grande, who have been 
keeping watch for suspected grow-house operations. In one case, Mr. 
Karygiannis even confronted two suspects in their driveway.

"If it's true, I think it's a very unsafe and unwise kind of activity for 
any private citizen, not just politicians, but for anybody to get engaged 
in," Staff Insp. Hayes said, adding that he was sure the politicians' 
intentions were "honourable."

Mr. Karygiannis defended his actions yesterday, saying it was no different 
than canvassing his constituents. "We're not encouraging anyone to go out 
[and be a] vigilante," he said.

The MP said he had been knocking on doors in his riding and reporting 
suspected grow-houses he comes across to police. Late last year, he spotted 
two men in the driveway of a suspected grow operation just a block and a 
half from his house.

He approached the men, who told him they were fixing the garage door. Mr. 
Karygiannis suspected they were actually preparing to hotwire the hydro to 
power a marijuana grow operation and called the police.

Mr. Del Grande, who said he has also been patrolling his ward looking for 
grow operations for the past eight or nine months, said he got a call from 
Mr. Karygiannis about this particular suspected grow-op, and drove over as 
back-up. But he said he didn't approve of all of the Liberal MP's tactics.

"I personally do not advocate for any kind of confrontation," Mr. Del 
Grande said.

Councillor Brian Ashton (Scarborough Southwest) said he thought politicians 
should let police handle the actual crime-fighting: "It's either that or 
you turn into Batman."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom