Pubdate: Wed, 19 Sep 2001
Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Quesnel Cariboo Observer
Contact:  http://www.quesnelobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1260
Author: Rolf Harrison

POT PROMPTER SAYS HE'LL STALL POLICE IN PAPERWORK

The feud between an incorrigible marijuana trafficker and the Quesnel
RCMP continues to manifest itself in stacks of paperwork.

In the latest twist, police charged Stephen Payne with causing a
disturbance in a public place under a section of the criminal code
that defines disturbance as fighting, screaming, swearing, singing or
using insulting or obscene language.

This comes a month after Payne pressed charges against a Mountie who
tackled him as he protested the war on pot July 21, during a Billy
Barker Days concert.

The following week Payne charged the officer with assault and filed
complaints with the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP
and the B.C. Human Rights Commission.

The Quesnel RCMP says it has received and is investigating the
complaints.

The police filed the public disturbance charge against Payne August
29.

A self-proclaimed one-time drug dealer, Payne says he is driven to tie
up the RCMP with so much paperwork that they will spend less time
busting marijuana grow operations.

If at all successful, he would also be slowing police as they perform
other duties, effectively making life easier for criminals that may
deal marijuana as well as those that conduct other criminal activities.

He says he has exchanged lawsuits with the RCMP in Ontario on similar
grounds of harassment, eventually fleeing to the U.S. before the cases
concluded.

Payne also vows to file a lawsuit against the Billy Barker Days
Society, armed with a lawyer that represents the B.C. Marijuana Party.

Recent entanglements with the Mounties go beyond the protesting
incident in Lebourdais Park.

He is apparently a terrible driver.

He claims that in the past six months he has been slapped with five
fines for driving infractions, including speeding, driving with a
broken headlight, and driving without a license. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake