Pubdate: Fri, 23 Mar 2007
Source: Recorder & Times, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 Recorder and Times
Contact:  http://www.recorder.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2216
Author: Michael Jiggins
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

OPP COP HERE FACES TRAFFICKING CHARGES

PRESCOTT -- An 18-month probe into the drug and contraband cigarette 
trade in this community has led to several charges against a 
Grenville County OPP officer.

Maurice Morrissette, 37, a resident of Kemptville, was arrested 
Thursday on charges of trafficking in an illegal substance, 
possession of an illegal substance and obstructing justice.

A former member of the Prescott municipal police service, Morrissette 
was sworn into the OPP in September 2004 after the provincial force 
took over policing in the town.

Sergeant Kristine Rae said none of the charges laid against 
Morrissette on Thursday involve contraband cigarettes.

That's still an ongoing investigation, said Rae, who directed further 
questions on the contraband cigarette probe to the RCMP.

Corporal Nancy Mason of the RCMP's Kingston detachment said this 
morning the OPP and federal force teamed up on the investigation in 
the fall of 2005 after being "inundated" with complaints as far back as 2004.

Over time, she said the investigation has uncovered what she 
described as a "quite significant" operation involving the sale of 
"hundreds of cases" of illegal smokes.

"There are numerous other arrests pending," said Mason, indicating 
those charges will happen in the near future.

Mason said the investigation centres on cigarettes being sold by 
individuals from their homes.

She said the high price of tobacco products due to taxes is 
motivating people to buy the illegal cigarettes.

"People are looking at saving some money," she said.

According to Mason, the Brockville and Prescott area is a busy 
transit zone for the shipment of illegal cigarettes between Cornwall 
and the Toronto area.

The cigarettes are manufactured in Canada near Cornwall and 
distributed throughout the region on their way to Toronto.

"We are inundated with reports. We don't even have the resources to 
go and take off every load that is reported to us," said Mason.

Rae noted the allegations against Morrissette do not pertain to any 
activity that happened while he was on duty.

"Obviously it's very discouraging," said Rae, reacting to the charges 
against an OPP officer. "But criminal acts will not be tolerated and 
will be dealt with."

Mason agreed the arrest of a fellow officer was "disheartening."

"It was important to us to sort of restore the integrity of our 
organization, of our brotherhood," said Mason, adding, "There are 
hardworking wonderful policemen that serve in the Prescott and 
surrounding area..."

Morrissette was charged Thursday with one count each of trafficking 
and possession of a controlled substance, along with two counts of 
obstructing justice, said Rae.

She would not say what led to the obstruction charges.

Rae said Morrissette has been suspended with pay as a result of 
disciplinary action after he was charged with possession of a 
controlled substance stemming from a traffic stop on Highway 416 on 
August 17 of last year.

At the time, police said an undisclosed amount of marijuana was found 
in the vehicle he was driving.

Those charges remain before the courts, said Rae.

He was held in custody overnight and is to appear in Brockville court 
today on the latest charges.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman