RCMP Officer accused of sexual assault

The other article in the Vancouver Province I was commenting on was the Mountie Sex Suit where a high ranking RCMP officer, Staff-Sgt. Travis Pearson, has been accused of sexually assaulting a female officer. It is frighteningly familiar to the Colonel Wing Nut case and many others where someone in a position of authority abuses that position to pressure someone vulnerable into a sexual relationship.

We can't discuss this case because we don't have the evidence before us but we can discuss the article because it raises several important points. Here we have a female RCMP officer claiming she was raped and pressured into a relationship by one of her superiors. Those allegations are either true or false. Either way it is very disturbing.

Seemingly the VPD investigated the case but the VPD investigator concluded the evidence did not support the complaint and no charges were laid. The victim claims the VPD detective failed to contact relevant medical experts or adequately consider evidence about alleged inappropriate conduct by Pearson in connection with two other female officers, and several municipal employees, including an alleged relationship “which had elements in common with [Gastaldo’s] complaint.”

If that is true it does indeed establish a pattern of abusive behavior. Her lawyer claims “When you have police officers investigating police officers there is always issues that are held up, and really this is the type of thing that needs to be investigated by a civilian arm.”

That is basically what we have been saying all along. We need a civilian agency to monitor police complaints. However, this case does raise a dilemma. Can civilians investigate criminal charges? After all, if someone wants to press criminal charges against anyone, the police must be involved to investigate. Can civilians investigate criminal charges? It is indeed very problematic.

I completely agree we need a civilian agency to investigate police complaints. Yet all police complaints would likely involve criminal activity. If they have been accused of using excessive force, that would constitute assault. In this case, if someone is accused of rape, that would also involve criminal charges.

Obviously civilians do not have the power to lay criminal charges. They do however have the authority to make recommendations to the crown and they can over see disciplinary courts. When the Delta police investigated the Kelowna mountie who kicked the suspect in the face when he was on his knees, they recommended criminal charges be laid. That is the same thing a civilian agency could do.

It is possible that the VPD did a thorough investigation and sincerely did believe that there was not enough evidence to pursue charges. The victim was married. The complaint surfaced when her husband found text messages of a sexual nature on his wife's phone. No doubt the defense would argue they were in a consensual relationship i.e. she was having an affair and told her husband she was raped. Possible but no more possible than the possibility that she was indeed raped and her eventual submission “was directly related to his authority over her and the command culture of the RCMP.”

Indeed the command culture of the RCMP is something that needs to be looked at. Yet if the guy was raping her, you'd think he wouldn't be texting her incriminating evidence. Unless he was just another wacko that got off on weird stuff. I'm certainly not going to minimize the case and say the victim is lying because she might not be. If what she says is true and her allegations are supported by other witnesses who experienced similar abuse then that does need to be investigated by a civilian agency. In fact it is. A civil court is investigating the matter. Hopefully due process will prevail.

I still don't think this case is enough reason to disband the RCMP. Create a civilian agency yes. Examine the command culture of the RCMP yes but disband it no. We don't disband the education system because a teacher sexually assaults a student. Likewise, we don't dissolve transit because a bus driver has an accident under the influence.

Sarkozy's Sex Suit

These were two completely different headlines in today's Vancouver Province but I thought they went well together. The first headline read "Sarkozy took cash, judge says." Nicolas Sarkozy personally received cash handouts from Liliane Bettencourt, the L'Oreal cosmetics heiress, for his 2007 election campaign, a judge claims in a new book.

No big surprise there. Perhaps Gaddafi's claim that he contributed to Sarkozy's political campaign has merit. Sarkozy is the guy who screwed Gaddafi royally. He took money from him for his campaign, then shafted him and led the bombing for his oil.

The new book called "Sarko Killed Me" written by two investigative journalists from Le Monde newspaper cited in the Vancouver Province quotes a highly respected magistrate who first investigated the affair a year ago. The two journalists interviewed 27 politicians, magistrates, businessmen and other figures who say they were professionally broken and personally humiliated by Sarkozy and his inner circle. Well surprise surprise. Perhaps Gaddafi isn't the only one. Meanwhile, World leaders in Sarkozy's inner circle revel in Gadhafi's demise.

The other headline was Mountie sex suit. At first I wasn't sure if it was a sexual assault allegation or a new kind of adult clothing to replace Colonel Thong's wardrobe. Unfortunately it was referring to another sexual assault. Before I discuss the sexual assault allegations involving a Mountie, let me cite the sexual assault allegations against Sarkozy's political opponent, Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

As we recall, Dominique Strauss-Kahn was the up and coming presidential candidate to challenge Sarkozy. Those hopes were shattered when he was faced with allegations of sexual assault. Only as the case went on, it appeared the credibility of the accuser was somewhat tainted. She had previously lied about a gang rape to gain citizenship and was quoted in private telling a friend not to worry, she knows what she's doing and that he has lots of money.

So now we read that the prosecution is recommending charges be dropped. That makes the initial accusations very suspicious. Nicolas Sarkozy clearly benefited from those allegations. I will declare that sexual asault is indeed a heinous crime. The last thing a rape victim needs is to be not believed. Yet false allegations of sexual assault are equally heinous. Especially if they are made for political purposes.

Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, is also facing possible extradition for sexual assault charges. Sexual assault is indeed a heinous crime but these allegations against this individual at this time are incredibly suspicious. It seems to be a Method of Operation the attack poodles use that Catherine Austin Fitts described. The same type of attack poodles Nicolas Sarkozy is accused of using in the book Sarko Killed Me. Personally, I think Nicolas Sarkozy is a scoundrel.

Hell Angels Bull riding on Crystal Meth

I thought this one was pretty bizarre but noticed Mike P thought it was cool. Here's a picture of a Hells Angel wearing colours as well as shorts and sneakers riding a bull in Wyoming. I don't understand what it is with the Hells Angels and sneakers. Even cowboys wear boots.



At first one has to ask if the guy is on crack. Well it turns out two of the Hells Angels on site were arrested in possession of crystal meth. So it was crystal meth not crack this time. My bad. One of them did a photo shoot with his daughter strapping spurs to his sneakers. Good dads don't sell crystal meth or run prostitution rings. I find the Hells Angels PR spin rather twisted.

Wade Belak found dead

A Nashville Predators spokesman has confirmed that former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Wade Belak has been found dead in an upscale Toronto-area hotel, he was 35. He is the third NHL tough-guy to die in the last four months. Both Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien passed away this past summer after hard-fought personal battles. Third NHL enforced dead in four months. That is strange.



Meanwhile back on the ranch, another human foot washed on shore in Vancouver on Tuesday. The eighth foot to wash on shore since August 2007. An autopsy has confirmed it's another human foot and they have no idea what caused it. Despite not knowing how it got there, no foul play is expected. Yeah people drown and cut off their feet all the time.

Ion Croitoru - Johnny K-9

Ion Croitoru wrestled professionally under the name “Johnny K-9” and "Bruiser Bedlam." He was the Satan's Choice motorcycle club president back in Ontario. We remember him caught on a wire with Clay Rouchette in support of the United Nations gang. Well it turns out he was already in custody for a plot to kill Bacon and his two brothers between Jan. 1, 2008 and Feb. 17, 2009.

My first thought was even with a balaclava on the guy is pretty hard not to miss so I highly doubt he was the shooter that finally killed JB Hog. Then I realized he's still in custody. Croitoru is awaiting trial for first-degree murder in the shooting death of Jonathan Barber, 24, and the attempted murder of Vicky King.

I certainly don't support drug related public executions where innocent people are put at risk and family members are injured, but I will cite the case as an example of a rising force that is opposing the Hells Angels monopoly on the drug trade. I see that as a good thing. Yes, public shootings put the public at risk, yet letting the Hells angels have a ruthless monopoly on the drug trade is just plain wrong. I rather hear about Hells Angels getting shot at then drug addicts tortured or pushed out of windows for drug debts.

So, let's give it up for Romania. The counter revolution has begun. It's not natural justice but it is a natural consequence of tyranny and betrayal. What goes around comes around. Word.

Arrest Warrant for Steven Skinner

Halifax police have issued an arrest warrant for Steven Skinner, a MMA fighter from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Skinner remains at large, but has been charged with second-degree murder over the death of Stacey Adams. Adams, 20, was found shot dead in front of a new home in a Lake Echo neighbourhood in April. It's believed Skinner was at a home in Lake Echo when Adams and a friend arrived. Shots were fired and Adams was killed.

Police say Stacey Adams knew at least one of the suspects and that all parties involved are connected to drug sub-culture. Skinner has a criminal history. He has also been charged in the past with hostage taking, aggravated assault and uttering threats.

Gloria Adams, the deceased's mother said: "If you agree with the code of silence, then in cases like this I don't see (you) any different than I see the killer." She is absolutely right. Police think Skinner has left the province.

Skinner also faces criminal charges over an incident two years ago. He is accused of going with a Toronto man to the home of a 66-year-old man in Lower Sackville. Skinner and his friend allegedly had an issue with the man's son. Hot spoons and knives were used to burn parts of the older man's body.

The father let them in because he recognized Skinner as a friend of his son and offered them a drink. Then they tortured him and burned off one of his tattoos because they were looking for his son. I cannot over emphasize how deranged this pattern of violence is. Torturing someone's family member. Ratting out someone who does that is not being a rat. Turning the other way is.

Mike P

Someone sent me this link to another Hells Angels rap video after I posted a critique of Weird Hal's latest disaster. It's also on Youtube. The Hells Angels logos are blurred out in Mike P's video but you can tell by the horned helmeted winged skull tattoo he's a member.



He posts photos of him with his Hells Angels colours elsewhere. Although his video is a thousand times better than Weird Hal's, it's still pretty pointless. Like kids who never grew up. I don't mean to disrespect a brother from LA but he's not a brother and he's not from LA. He's from Beverly Hills.



California Hells Angels. That would be Sonny Barger's pal Otis Garret from Oakland who was convicted of running a prostitution ring for the Hells angels in San Fransisco called the Love Nest. He was finally convicted of ordering the murder of Margo Compton and her twin six year old daughters for testifying against him.

Mike P is sure proud of his badge that says prostitution and baby killers. Not me. That's too much like wearing a shirt that says I love Clifford Olsen. But that's OK because we know Mike P doesn't give a fuck. That's all he has to say in his video. I think he'd give a fuck if someone pimped out his daughter, sister or mother and shot their little kids. Blind devotion is somewhat short sighted.

It's disappointing to see the Italians are supporting baby killers. The Italians use to have a code of conduct. That was before they started murdering a guy's sister. They say in Rome that pride cometh before the fall. Time will tell. It always does.



Nice sneakers. Not. The video was directed by bad boy Ron Moon. Tell me what does selling crack and running prostitution rings have to do with Judaism? Nothing that's right. But it's OK because you don't give a fuck. Well I do. And I'm not the only one who gives a fuck about Margo Compton's little girls. Justice may be slow but it is sure.

Regional Police Force

Locally, John Ferry wrote an article in the Vancouver Province calling for a Metro police force that he hopes will solve all the world's problems. Obviously, that's going to generate a knee jerk reaction from the RCMP. Personally I don't see a metro police force in BC being the solution to anything. Point granted it works in Ontario. But this isn't Ontario. Ontario has a much larger population base.

Take Surrey for example. We don't have City police in Surrey, we have the RCMP. In fact, the RCMP musical ride is part of our historical tradition in Surrey. For us to give up the RCMP would be like trading in a longstanding historical tradition for a mall cop. I don't think we want a Regional police force in Surrey.

Although there is merit in the concern that our current system is fragmented, let's think about how it got that way. Vancouver wanted it's own police force. So they made one. The same with Delta and New Westminster. They wanted more control over their own policing so that is what they decided to do. I don't think those cities want to give up their control over their own police forces.

Then comes the issue of unionization. Some people love unions, some people hate them. The feeling that I get from the RCMP is that they prefer not to be unionized. That is their choice. Just like it's Vancouver's right to chose unionization.

Personally, I'm an idealist. I support the historical tradition and the values portrayed within the RCMP. I'll be the first one to agree the RCMP needs help. Everyone likes to cite the taser incident at the airport over and over and claim that is proof why we need a regional police force. But it's not. VPD has had it's share of police brutality complaints. The use of force instructer in New Westminster got drunk and robbed a newspaper deliveryman with two of his buddies.

What we do need in BC is a civilian agency that monitors police complaints. That is a given. It needs to oversee all policing in the province not just one force. The taser incident in the airport is over rated. Yes it was an absolute tragedy. Yes the police misused the taser. Remember it's the airport. With all this terrorist frenzy it isn't surprising the police over reacted in a call to make the peace in the airport.

Saying that a regional police force would have prevented the Vancouver riot is somewhat absurd. Yes the police were under prepared. We just came off the Olympic high. We didn't really think the mob would flip to the other extreme so fast over something so senseless. That certainly doesn't mean we want to march around with the SS breaking into homes and removing civil liberties. Jim Chu is a good man. I still think he would be perfect at the head of the RCMP if he so chose. Yet perhaps a better choice would be to promote someone from within. Having a civilian lead the RCMP is kind of like having a civilian be a general in the army.

I like the idea of speaking with an RCMP officer in Surrey from Quebec. I like the idea of an RCMP officer from Surrey serving in Quebec as well. One of the problems with a City police force is stagnation. I think working main and Hastings for your entire career could get you down after a while. I think having the option to transfer out would be good and I think giving other officers the chance to work Main and Hastings would be a eye opener for them as well.

Perhaps the best way to over come the fragmented system is to have the various agencies work together. Imagine that. As long as there is the threat of doing away with the RCMP or having VPD give up it's control of it's policing, all the agencies get territorial and protective. Let's keep the status quo and encourage more interaction between the forces.

Ontario's Biker Enforcement Unit came out to Langley when the Whiterock Hells Angels had a party there. Why can't RCMP officers go on an exchange with VPD officers and visa versa. By building those kinds of relationships you break down the walls of ignorance and stereotypes and you promote interaction. It's like I've got a friend in the VPD I trust so I can share information with him or visa versa.

I think we should preserve the RCMP. I do think Stephen Harper spending millions on promoting the RCMP "brand" while at the same time cutting funding for the RCMP and the Gang Task Force is hypocritical and bizarre. Yet preserving good traditions helps us carve out and retain our unique identity as a nation.

It's like Paul Gross in the TV Series Due South. Ya gotta love that optimistic Dudley Do Right naivety the character portrayed. Seeing the RCMP on police boats in Pitt Lake was inspiring. It's like the adage of how the Mountie always gets his man. It reminded me of seeing a police presence in Surrey Central complete with volunteers, a mobile command center and auxiliary police officers on quads for chasing down suspects in Surrey parks. That was awesome. Let's preserve our heritage and not trade it in for mall cops. This is our home. That makes it worth fighting for.

Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Unit

After I checked out the Haney Hells Angels clubhouse I went over to soak up the sun at Pitt Lake. Low and behold there were two police boats on site filled with RCMP and some representatives from the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Unit. I didn't know we had one. Seemingly they are a branch of the CFSEU - Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. Now that's what I'm talking about. This is one unit well worth funding.



Word on the street is that some gang members were having a party on the lake recently. That must be why the police were making their presence known. The more public the gangs are the more it attracts the police like a magnet. Maybe they were looking for Larry Amero's boat. With all those huge boats on the lake, some of them have got to be drug dealers. I prefer paddling up Widgeon creek and hiking up to the falls myself.

Haney Hells Angels Clubhouse

I'm working on a Haney and Maple Ridge spotlight like I have for Kelowna. In the means time I thought I should post the location of the Haney Hells Angels Clubhouse in Pitt Meadows / Maple Ridge. It's right on the way to Pitt Lake. I had no idea I've driven by it so many times.

If you take Old Dewdney Truck Road it's right after Hale Road before Neaves Road which takes you to Pitt Lake. It's right beside 13843 McKechnie Rd. It kinda looks like the Whiterock Clubhouse in Langley. A Gated fence with the big red barn thing going. Only all the red and white mixed together kinda looks pink. Not that there's anything wrong with that.



I also noticed that Haney Ink is right beside Spike's motorcycle shop Haney Hawgs on Maple Cresent and has Stocky i.e. Vince Brienza listed as president and board member. I guess he didn't od after all.