Pubdate: Thu, 10 Mar 2005
Source: Red Deer Advocate (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Red Deer Advocate
Contact:  http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2492
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?216 (CN Police)

BAILIFF TELLS OF GOING TO SEIZE ROSZKO'S TRUCK

EDMONTON (CP) - The bailiff who tried to repossess James Roszko's truck 
said the man cursed and simply drove away when he confronted him on his 
farm the day before four RCMP officers were shot and killed, CTV News 
reported Wednesday.

Mark Hnatiw - one of the last people to speak with Roszko before he shot 
the officers and then killed himself last Thursday - says he wonders why 
he's still alive.

The former prison guard said he approached Roszko at his farm near 
Mayerthrope with another bailiff last Wednesday after being given the task 
of repossessing Roszko's pickup truck.

"Weasly little guy," the six-foot-three-inch, 250-pound Hnatiw told CTV in 
an interview. "He was a scared, weird, little guy."

Roszko cursed at him, jumped into his truck and drove off, Hnatiw said, 
leaving two Rottweilers growling behind the padlocked gate. "That's when I 
said to my partner, 'this is getting weird,' " he said.

They called the RCMP and within two minutes two officers arrived.

After cutting the lock on the gate, Hnatiw and the officers pepper-sprayed 
the dogs and walked to Roszko's Quonset hut.

He remembers seeing white truck parts and suspected Roszko might have taken 
the truck apart.

"We're looking for booby traps, this guy's a criminal, who knows what we're 
going to find," he recalled.

"I heard somebody call out, 'Smell that? It's a grow. There's a grow in 
here.' "

They found about 120 mature and young marijuana plants, a few pounds of 
marijuana leaves and several cut-up vehicles.

Hnatiw said he left soon after because the operation was now more than just 
repossessing a truck.

Hnatiw recalled that Const. Brock Myrol, 29, arrived just before he left 
and was briefed for his overnight watch. Myrol was one of the officers 
found dead the next day.

"Brock was playing close attention, and he didn't say too much, but. . . 
fine-looking young man. Shiny boots. Looked like a million bucks. Proud to 
be there," Hnatiw recalled before breaking down in tears.

The next morning, Hnatiw found out that Roszko had slipped back onto the 
property and shot the four officers before killing himself.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager