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Immediate family members of the Mayor of the Village of Slocan City are facing multiple charges after being arrested at the location of three marijuana grow-ops near Winlaw on Aug. 23. The bust was first reported in the Sept. 1 issue of the Arrow Lakes News.
Mayor Madeleine Perriere's husband, Georges Perriere, and two of her sons were arrested at the scene of the grow-op, allegedly for tending to the plants.
The RCMP also found a total of $15,000 in nine bundles of cash in a Ziploc bag, which they allege was found in a cat food bag behind the passenger seat of a truck. That vehicle, a 2000 GMC Sierra pickup truck, was also seized at the scene.
The grow-op was located on Crown land near McKean Road in Winlaw. A spokesperson for the B.C. Attorney-General's office said there was no search warrant issued in relation to the seizures.
A court document obtained by the Arrow Lakes News details a list of items seized by members of the Nakusp and Slocan Lake detachments.
In addition to the pickup and cash, a total of 657 marijuana plants were found. They were discovered in multiple sites on the land near McKean Road. The first site contained 120 flowering marijuana plants and 23 in their "vegetative" state. The second site contained 320 plants. The third and final site contained 194 flowering marijuana plants.
Police also seized what they list as a "marijuana licence application" found in a folder behind the driver's seat.
Health Canada does issue licenses that allow individuals to grow marijuana for medical uses "to those who are suffering from grave and debilitating illnesses," their Medical Use of Marijuana web page states.
The website also contains marijuana growing application forms that can be downloaded. There are several different types of licenses, all requiring numerous checks and references, such as a criminal record check, or a doctor's note. The licences restrict the number of plants that can be grown.
Mayor Madeleine Perriere has since addressed the issue at the latest Slocan City council meeting, stating she had no idea of her family members' alleged activities. She will not step down as mayor, saying the issue is a private family matter and not reflective of her work for the city.
She has also garnered support from her fellow council members, said Coun. Jean Patterson.
"Council feels that she's still the same mayor that was elected and that her private life is her private life," Patterson said. "That's the way council feels."
Patterson refused to speak any more on the matter, stating at this point it would just be hearsay.
RCMP say they found the grow-ops after getting a tip from an undisclosed source, who told them there could be drug activity in that area.
"We investigated the information and located it on Crown land," Nakusp RCMP Cpl. Bryson Hill said. "We then implanted officers into that grow-op and waited for the growers to attend."
Hill said camouflage-clad officers staked out the locations for days – leaving the site only for brief periods – as they waited for their chance to pounce.
He confirmed every member of the Nakusp RCMP detachment was involved in the bust, except for him.
"I wish I could have [been], actually," Hill said when asked if he had been there. "Everywhere I've been we try and do that at least twice a year, and that's the only way we can get them."
He issued a warning to marijuana growers: "You can get caught. We will be doing it and you won't see us because we're wearing camouflage and we're trained and we'll come and surprise you when you least expect it," said Hill.
Mayor Perriere has yet to return calls from the Arrow Lakes News.
A court appearance is scheduled for the Nelson Provincial Court on Nov. 22.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed:420 MAGAZINE
Source:BCLocalNews.com - Local News
Author: Sam Smith
Contact: Arrow Lakes News - Contact Us
Copyright: 2010 Black Press Digital
Website:Arrow Lakes News - Updated: $15,000 cash, 'marijuana licence application' seized in Slocan pot bust linked to mayor's family
Mayor Madeleine Perriere's husband, Georges Perriere, and two of her sons were arrested at the scene of the grow-op, allegedly for tending to the plants.
The RCMP also found a total of $15,000 in nine bundles of cash in a Ziploc bag, which they allege was found in a cat food bag behind the passenger seat of a truck. That vehicle, a 2000 GMC Sierra pickup truck, was also seized at the scene.
The grow-op was located on Crown land near McKean Road in Winlaw. A spokesperson for the B.C. Attorney-General's office said there was no search warrant issued in relation to the seizures.
A court document obtained by the Arrow Lakes News details a list of items seized by members of the Nakusp and Slocan Lake detachments.
In addition to the pickup and cash, a total of 657 marijuana plants were found. They were discovered in multiple sites on the land near McKean Road. The first site contained 120 flowering marijuana plants and 23 in their "vegetative" state. The second site contained 320 plants. The third and final site contained 194 flowering marijuana plants.
Police also seized what they list as a "marijuana licence application" found in a folder behind the driver's seat.
Health Canada does issue licenses that allow individuals to grow marijuana for medical uses "to those who are suffering from grave and debilitating illnesses," their Medical Use of Marijuana web page states.
The website also contains marijuana growing application forms that can be downloaded. There are several different types of licenses, all requiring numerous checks and references, such as a criminal record check, or a doctor's note. The licences restrict the number of plants that can be grown.
Mayor Madeleine Perriere has since addressed the issue at the latest Slocan City council meeting, stating she had no idea of her family members' alleged activities. She will not step down as mayor, saying the issue is a private family matter and not reflective of her work for the city.
She has also garnered support from her fellow council members, said Coun. Jean Patterson.
"Council feels that she's still the same mayor that was elected and that her private life is her private life," Patterson said. "That's the way council feels."
Patterson refused to speak any more on the matter, stating at this point it would just be hearsay.
RCMP say they found the grow-ops after getting a tip from an undisclosed source, who told them there could be drug activity in that area.
"We investigated the information and located it on Crown land," Nakusp RCMP Cpl. Bryson Hill said. "We then implanted officers into that grow-op and waited for the growers to attend."
Hill said camouflage-clad officers staked out the locations for days – leaving the site only for brief periods – as they waited for their chance to pounce.
He confirmed every member of the Nakusp RCMP detachment was involved in the bust, except for him.
"I wish I could have [been], actually," Hill said when asked if he had been there. "Everywhere I've been we try and do that at least twice a year, and that's the only way we can get them."
He issued a warning to marijuana growers: "You can get caught. We will be doing it and you won't see us because we're wearing camouflage and we're trained and we'll come and surprise you when you least expect it," said Hill.
Mayor Perriere has yet to return calls from the Arrow Lakes News.
A court appearance is scheduled for the Nelson Provincial Court on Nov. 22.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed:420 MAGAZINE
Source:BCLocalNews.com - Local News
Author: Sam Smith
Contact: Arrow Lakes News - Contact Us
Copyright: 2010 Black Press Digital
Website:Arrow Lakes News - Updated: $15,000 cash, 'marijuana licence application' seized in Slocan pot bust linked to mayor's family
