Pubdate: Fri, 25 Aug 2006
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2006 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Bruce Owen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

MAN CAUGHT UP IN ALLEGED DRUG RING SUES CITY POLICE

AN Alberta man caught up in an alleged multimillion dollar
cross-border ephedrine smuggling ring two years ago has sued the
Winnipeg Police Service, the RCMP and the Attorney General of Canada.

Aubrey Bruneau of Hanna, Alta., said police allegedly hurt his
shoulder during his arrest Sept. 15, 2004, and later defamed him in a
press release on the case.

The allegations are outlined in a statement of claim filed in
Manitoba's Court of Queen's Bench April 24 and have not been proven in
court.

To date, only the Winnipeg Police Service has responded to Bruneau's
claim. A July 24 motion asks the court to strike the service, Police
Chief Jack Ewatski and the City of Winnipeg from Bruneau's lawsuit as
its officers had nothing to do with his arrest.

Under court rules, a defendant has 20 days to file a statement of
defence or a motion asking for an extension.

Bruneau, 46, was arrested as part of the RCMP-led Operation Diversion,
a sweep of dozens of people across Canada and the United States for
allegedly trading in smuggled ephedrine to make the highly addictive
street drug methamphetamine. The alleged network stretched from
Thunder Bay to Winnipeg and Lac Du Bonnet to underground labs in
Vancouver and through Buffalo, N.Y., to labs in California. More than
20,000 pounds of ephedrine and $3.5 million in cash were seized in the
raids. Guns and lab equipment were also seized.

Bruneau, a custom car restorer, is the brother of Rodger Bruneau, a
gym owner police said was the ringleader of the smuggling scheme.
Rodger Bruneau, died Feb. 14, 2005, of an overdose of fentanyl and
codeine, drugs he was taking to control chronic leg pain.

Aubrey Bruneau's charges remain before the court, as do the charges of
every other suspect caught up in Operation Diversion.

Preliminary hearings have not been set in Winnipeg for the 17 accused
as both sides wait for a judge's decision on how defence lawyers get
police evidence in the case; on CDs or thousands of pieces of paper.
The case is in court again Sept. 7. 
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