Pubdate: Sat, 16 Apr 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: Bob Weber, Canadian Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

ROSZKO GROW-OP INCLUDED 280 PLANTS

Equipment Worth About $8,000, Court Documents Show

EDMONTON -- The marijuana grow operation on Mountie killer James Roszko's 
farm included at least nine 1,000-watt bulbs, fluorescent lights and an 
electronically timed water system to nurture his plants.

Recently released court documents outline the extent of Mr. Roszko's 
grow-op, which was initially at the centre of calls for a crackdown after 
his catastrophic confrontation with the RCMP.

Search warrant results filed in provincial court in Stony Plain, Alta., 
also confirm 280 pot plants were found in the Quonset hut where Mr. Roszko 
gunned down four officers March 3.

Constables Brock Myrol, 29; Anthony Gordon, 28; Leo Johnston, 32; and Peter 
Schiemann, 25 -- who was out of uniform and unarmed -- died in the attack 
with a semi-automatic assault rifle.

Mr. Roszko shot himself after killing the officers.

In the shock and grief that came after the shootings, several public 
officials said marijuana grow-ops were responsible for a growing 
lawlessness that was putting police lives at risk. Both RCMP Commissioner 
Giuliano Zaccardelli and Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, who is also 
Public Safety Minister, said tougher laws were needed to avoid similar 
tragedies.

However, both later acknowledged that Mr. Roszko's grow-op was not the main 
reason for the shootings.

In fact, the marijuana plants were only discovered as a result of a 
stolen-property investigation, and Mr. Roszko's hatred of police was both 
long-standing and well-known.

Commissioner Zaccardelli later said there would have been no way to predict 
when someone like Mr. Roszko would snap.

The search warrant offers an extensive list of Mr. Roszko's pot-growing 
paraphernalia, from his Rainbird water timer to 130 plastic bins in which 
he grew his crop.

He used a portable heater to protect the plants in the uninsulated metal 
hut and kept a supply of water available in two 250-gallon tanks. Pumps 
kept the soil well-watered and full of nutrients, while fans circulated air 
in the enclosure.

The value of the equipment has been estimated at about $8,000.

Civilian witnesses who were on the site in the early morning hours before 
the shootings said the grow-op was blocked off from the rest of the hut by 
makeshift walls of plywood and polyethylene sheeting.

About 20 of the plants had recently been harvested, said one of the 
mechanics who was helping RCMP remove stolen vehicles.

The odour inside the grow-op was powerful enough to make his head pound 
after only a few minutes, he said.

Another search warrant released earlier listed other items found on Mr. 
Roszko's property, including a crossbow, a fake gun and boxes of ammunition.

RCMP also seized a laptop computer, a police radio scanner, two scales, 
vehicle information, marijuana seeds and two wallets containing $1,585.

Other items included spotlights, walkie-talkies, stereo equipment, a 
television, drug paraphernalia and a box of articles related to police and 
to sex offences.

Inside the hut, investigators seized three sets of Alberta licence plates, 
two pickup trucks, a dirt bike, an all-terrain vehicle, an electrical 
generator and a lawn tractor.

RCMP have already said the discovery of ammunition on the property during 
the early stages of the search prompted them to reassess security and 
safety precautions.

A senior British Columbia RCMP officer, assisted by a B.C. major crimes 
unit, is investigating the case. RCMP officials have said the probe could 
take several months.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom