Pubdate: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Morning Star Contact: http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352 Author: Dan Ebenal POLICE PROBE LINK IN DRUG KILLINGS The investigation into the disappearance of two men has led police to a Vernon warehouse they suspect could be linked to as many as five recent murders. Police raided a building at 1077 Fairweather Road Wednesday morning, searching for evidence relating to the disappearance of David Barry Marnuik and Stanley Wade Polak. Marnuik, who would now be 47, has not been seen since July 14, 2004 and police suspect he is the victim of foul play. "Vernon RCMP believe that at the time of his disappearance, Marnuik may have been picked up in abduction-like fashion by at least two males in the Vernon area," said Cpl. Red Leibel. Marnuik is believed to have been grabbed off the street in the Vernon area in mid-July 2004, but police will not say where the incident may have occurred. Police have released composite drawings of the two men they wish to speak to in relation to Marnuik's disappearance. The first is described as a 40-year-old white male, six-foot-one, stocky build, with dark blonde hair worn past the shoulders in a ponytail. The second is described as a 30-year-old white male, six feet tall, muscular build, with brown hair shaved close to his head and a goatee. Polak, 33, went missing from the Falkland area on March 21, and while police won't go as far as to say they believe foul play is involved, they do call his disappearance suspicious. At the time of his disappearance, Polak was wanted on a Canadawide warrant for the suspension of his statutory release. "A warrant was issued and still remains in effect today," said Leibel. A task force -- comprised of about 20 investigators from the RCMP Serious Crimes Unit, Criminal Intelligence Section and Vernon RCMP -- continued to comb through the Fairweather Road building Thursday. While investigators are scouring the warehouse specifically for clues into the disappearance of the two men, the task force is also looking into five recent murders. "They are investigating links. Are they related? Are some related? It's a very complicated, very detailed investigation," said Leibel. The body of Jeffrey Drake was discovered about 100 metres down Adventure Bay Road in August 2004. While police did not release the cause of death, they would say the 60-year-old Vernon man died as a result of foul play about a month before his body was discovered. Thomas Alfred Bryce, 30, died in Victoria hospital as a result of injuries sustained during a brutal beating at Kin Beach Nov. 9, 2004. Richard Hewison was found off Westside Road March 26, the victim of a gunshot. The 43-year-old Vancouver man's Ford pickup truck was located a few days later near the MacKay reservoir in Vernon, where it had been set ablaze. Ronald James Thom, 31, was found shot to death on Commonage Road May 31. His girlfriend -- 38-year-old Belinda Scott -- went missing the following day. Her body was discovered by campers Aug. 11 in a remote area 20 kilometres south of Hope. Police would not release the cause of death, but said she met with foul play around the time of her disappearance. One link police have already established is a belief that all seven individuals were actively involved in the local drug trade. "There are a number of groups in the city that work in the drug distribution business. There are a number of groups that derive a lot of financial gain from the drug trade," said Leibel, who confirmed a group known as The Greeks are one of the major players in Vernon's drug trade. He would not, however, confirm or deny that the gang used the building as its clubhouse. "Some (groups) are larger than others, but there isn't one that controls the drug trade in Vernon. We're too big a city for that." The warehouse -- which is equipped with security lights and a surveillance camera and has a residential unit upstairs -- is also familiar to Leibel, who took part in a drug raid on the building a couple of years ago. However, Leibel would not say whether police had been conducting surveillance on the warehouse or comment on the activities that took place inside the building, saying "those are answers best heard by a court of law." A neighbour of the warehouse, who did not want to be identified, said there was no activity inside the building during the day. "They came at night." Police have set up a telephone line dedicated specifically to the investigation. Anyone with information on the disappearances or murders is asked to call 260-7142. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin