Pubdate: Fri, 23 Apr 2010
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Gerry Bellett and Kelly Sinoski, Vancouver Sun
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

ACCUSED CITY COP TO STAY IN JAIL

Friends Say They Can't Believe Charges of Selling Marijuana

Fired Vancouver police officer Peter Hodson appeared briefly in court
Thursday on charges of drug trafficking, breach of trust, and break
and enter with the intent to commit extortion.

He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance
Monday.

Hodson, 31, a former University of B.C. basketball player, appeared
relaxed as he chatted with his lawyer Vincent Michaels in Vancouver
Provincial Court.

Wearing a blue T-shirt, he leaned on the edge of the prisoner's box
talking to Michaels.

He was arrested Wednesday while at work in the police department's
Cambie Street headquarters.

Chief Const. Jim Chu described him as a "rogue officer" who allegedly
sold marijuana on the street while on and off duty. He's jointly
charged with drug trafficking with Surrey man Oscar Lapitan.

Police would not reveal the relationship between the two men, but
Lapitan's mother Luzvminda said Thursday the two met playing basketball.

"My son has nothing to do with this," she insisted. "My son was a
basketball player and the police officer met him there. My son doesn't
know anything about this and that's all I can say."

Oscar has his own business, she said, adding she couldn't "say
anything about it."

Meanwhile, Hodson's arrest continues to shock his friends, who say
it's surprising the same man involved in literacy projects in Africa
and a Surrey basketball program for developmentally challenged youth
is facing drug charges.

"I find it hard to believe," said Bert Beaudry, coach of the
Developmentally Challenged Youth Basketball Association in south
Surrey. "I can't see how he can be on the other side. He's either
working undercover or he's being framed."

Beaudry, who worked with Hodson for about two years in the basketball
league, said the former police officer lived for the sport. While at
White Rock Christian Academy, Hodson was dubbed "Mr. Automatic" for
his shooting prowess. He took those skills to Langara and UBC, where
he completed his bachelor's degree.

In 2007, he formed the Surrey DCYBA league, but stopped coaching a few
years ago so he could spend more time with his two young daughters,
Beaudry said. He still dropped in from time to time and brought volunteers.

His work, Beaudry said, "came from the heart.

"When you get jocks who want to coach sports they're not going to
choose special needs," he said. "He was just a good man."

Nate Lepp, one of the members of the charitable organization, Under
the Reading Tree, agreed the charges were a surprise. The organization
was cofounded by Hodson in 2003 to fund libraries and literacy in
Africa. According to the group's website, Hodson was inspired to
establish the non-profit after a trip to Uganda. It also said when
he's not working, he's at home in south Surrey "building anything and
everything he can out of wood."

By Thursday morning, his photo and biography had been removed from the
website.

"This is very disappointing to us," Lepp said.

Outside court, Michaels asked the public not to rush to judgment.
"Allegations aren't evidence and we can all remember a number of cases
that started off in a sensational way. Let's take our time and see
what this amounts to," he said. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake