Pubdate: Sun, 17 Sep 2006
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Jon Willing
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

'JUST COPS EVERYWHERE'

Multiple Shooting Shatters Peace Of North Glengarry

GREENFIELD -- A major crime scene where a man was found dead Friday 
has shattered the tranquility residents have come to enjoy in this 
North Glengarry community.

"The soccer games are the most noise you would have in a week," Roch 
Thibodeau said, pointing to a soccer pitch across from his home on 
Kenyon Concession 5.

But ever since a swarm of cops and paramedics rushed to the scene of 
a shooting Friday afternoon, there has been a constant stream of 
vehicles coming and going from the crime scene, less than a kilometre 
down the road from Thibodeau's house.

"It's just been cops everywhere," Thibodeau, 32, said.

COMBING PROPERTY

A multiple shooting at 18985 Kenyon Concession 5, west of Alexandria 
about 75 km east of Ottawa, has the OPP combing the property for 
evidence this weekend. Police have released few details about how a 
man died and how two other men ended up with critical and serious 
gunshot injuries.

The status of the two injured men, who are in an Ottawa hospital, was 
unchanged yesterday. Meanwhile, the body of the dead man was removed 
from the Greenfield-area property at around 3:20 p.m., exactly 24 
hours after emergency services were called to the scene. An autopsy 
is scheduled for this morning in Ottawa.

While the circumstances surrounding the shooting are sketchy, police 
have said it's in relation to a marijuana grow operation. 
Investigators seized a firearm at the scene.

Sgt. Kristine Rae said charges are pending against two men who are in 
police custody. They were expected to make a video appearance in court today.

Police yesterday were having difficulty confirming the identities off 
all five men involved in the incident.

There are also questions about when the shooting took place.

One emergency services source said preliminary information suggested 
the wounds on the two injured men were inflicted at two different 
times before noon Friday.

Lise and Yvon Leblanc live directly across from the suspect property.

"The first we heard was four or five shots in the morning and we 
thought it was hunters," Lise Leblanc said.

HELICOPTER CIRCLING

The 62-year-old woman said she left home to get groceries in Cornwall 
at around 8:30 a.m. Friday. When she returned just before 4:30 p.m., 
she saw a helicopter circling above.

"I could see the helicopter and I got scared because my husband has a 
heart problem and I thought something happened to him," Leblanc said.

Neighbours said a Montreal man owns the suspect property, but he 
doesn't live there.

Jason Pallen, 68, said he often talks with the landowner when he 
comes by the property. Pallen said he hasn't seen him since around 
the middle of summer.

There's a square-log house and separate workshop on the property, Pallen said.

Because of tall trees and brush, the buildings can't be seen from the road.

Pallen was taken aback Friday when a cop told his family to lock the door.

'CALL 911'

"She said if it's not a police officer that comes, call 911," Pallen recalled.

Marijuana grow ops aren't foreign to this area of Eastern Ontario. In 
August 2004, OPP found more than 6,000 plants northwest of 
Alexandria. A month later, police seized $1.6 million worth of pot at 
area grow ops.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom