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Letters  

Police 'handcuffed'

Re: Unlawful arrest, acquitted (Castanet, Oct. 22)

This is a cause of concern for the community.

The RCMP have a duty to serve and protect society by apprehending lawbreakers. The courts ascertain guilt or innocence and levy, or not levy, penalties.

The illegal drug trade is a blight on our society. We all know that something must be done. We all wonder why the The RCMP can’t get a handle on the situation and stop it. This story shows us why.

First, it took three years to come to court. Does anyone believe that in those three years, no other drug deals were made by this individual and his source? How much speed and fentanyl etc. was allowed on our streets? We need a faster legal system. Too often we see that justice is delayed, and not to society's benefit.

What else could the RCMP have done to protect the Charter rights of the accused?

Dealer A was under surveillance (probably not on a whim). He is seen with the “pick” under suspicious circumstances. They meet again in a known drug deal location. The “pick” is found with dealer weight of drugs and cash —the same “worst” drugs that are killing our least protected.

The “pick” gets off because his Charter rights are violated. How? The Mounties, based on training and experience, saw a drug deal go down. The deal was probably set up on burner, or throwaway, phones that the police couldn’t tap.

The parties didn’t look guiltily around for the cops, nor did they stand in public view to do the deal. But is there any doubt the deal was done? The Mounties aren’t stupid and, unfortunately, neither are the dealers.

The whole case was thrown by a technicality, not by lack of evidence.

Society has placed an unreasonable burden on the RCMP. The courts need to take a fresh look at “reasonable grounds” and any other smooth tricks that are being used to continue to handcuff those tasked with getting this drug scourge under control.

I just hope that the “pick” didn’t get his drugs and money back.

Gary Lynch



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