Pubdate: Sun, 10 Dec 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: Jason Bell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)

SUSPECT'S FINGERS SHOT OFF

Accused Shooter Of Officers Badly Injured, Lawyers Say

LAWYERS for the man accused of blasting police officers with a 
shotgun Thursday night say their client had his fingers shot off 
during the melee.

Three police officers also suffered gunshot wounds during a 
late-night drug raid at 723 Jubilee Ave. in Fort Rouge.

One of the officers, a 12-year veteran of the Winnipeg Police 
Service, was hit in the abdomen when a shotgun blast was fired from 
behind the bathroom door where the accused was hiding. The officer 
remains in the intensive care unit at Health Sciences Centre in 
guarded condition following emergency surgery early Friday morning.

Daniell Ian Anderson, 21, faces two counts of attempted murder while 
using a firearm, possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes and 
unauthorized possession of a firearm.

He is being held at the Winnipeg Remand Centre and is considered 
innocent until the charges have been proven in court.

One of Anderson's lawyers, Gail MacAulay, said she thinks her client 
should still be in hospital.

"His face is black and blue," she said Saturday. "He was in 
excruciating pain (Friday). His hand and elbow were all bandaged up.

"He's very upset. He's only 21 years old."

Alan Libman, co-counsel for Anderson, said his client spent just 16 
hours at St. Boniface General Hospital before being released to 
investigators around 3 p.m. Friday, after treatment for bullet wounds 
to his hand and elbow, as well as facial bruises.

He said Anderson left the hospital in "obvious pain" and with a 
prescription for painkillers, but "I was advised by police that they 
weren't going to fill it.

"(Anderson) went from the hospital to the (Public Safety Building) 
with no medication. He was interrogated with no medication and then 
taken to the remand centre at 7:30 p.m. He was complaining of being 
in severe pain. I think he did have some Tylenol, but I think you get 
more than Tylenol when you get your fingers shot off."

Police said Friday the suspect was injured but have provided no 
details. They could not be reached Saturday night to respond to 
Libman's concerns.

Of the other injured police officers, one was hit in the wrist and 
forearm by the shotgun blast, according to police sources.

It's believed a third officer was shot in the leg by a fellow officer 
during the rush to arrest the armed suspect and secure the home.

The other officers are in stable condition. Police have not released 
their names and have asked media to respect the privacy of the 
officers' families.

Other police officers who attended the scene of the incident have 
been put on mandatory stress leave. They will meet with a 
psychologist on Tuesday.

Investigators were still at the crime scene gathering evidence on 
Saturday, although a police spokeswoman said no new information would 
be released.

On Friday, police Chief Jack Ewatski said 12 officers were involved 
in the raid, which was launched by officers in Division 11, the 
downtown branch of the police service.

Police received information that indicated drugs were allegedly being 
sold out of the house and approached a magistrate to secure a search warrant.

Ewatski said all procedures were followed in carrying out the raid -- 
and that includes officers properly identifying themselves as they 
serve a search warrant.

"From my understanding, the proper protocols were followed for this 
type of warrant execution," he said Friday.

No drug charges have been laid against the suspect, although the 
investigation continues and more charges could be added, said police 
spokeswoman Const. Jacqueline Chaput.

Winnipeg lawyer Greg Brodsky was contacted by Anderson's parents on 
Friday, however, legal aid lawyers continue to represent the accused. 
MacAulay and Libman will appear in court on Anderson's behalf Monday morning.

"This is a young guy with no criminal record. It's not like he has a 
criminal lawyer on retainer," Libman said.

Libman and MacAulay met with Anderson on Friday at the Public Safety 
Building and again Saturday morning at the remand centre.

Libman said Anderson's mother and girlfriend were inside the Jubilee 
Avenue home when police executed the search warrant.

He said he hasn't seen the police report and won't get a copy until 
Monday when he appears in court.

"From the defence point of view, we don't have any of the answers 
yet," Libman said. "Did they knock? Did they phone? Did they open the 
door? Did they identify themselves as police officers?

"I'm looking forward to getting a police report to see what happened."

Sources on Friday linked the Anderson to the Zig Zag Crew, a minor 
affiliate gang of the Hells Angels, however, MacAulay said her client 
denied those reports.

"He's absolutely not affiliated with any gangs. That's nonsense, 
according to our client," she said. MacAulay said her client lived at 
home with his parents and was not currently working. He attended 
Churchill High School and Grant Park High School but left school 
without graduating.

MacAulay also confirmed Anderson and members of his family were 
"victims of a home invasion before" -- approximately four years ago.

"I don't think he's the devil," she said. "He's a distraught young 
kid with no prior record and no connection with a gang. Most people 
to see him would think he was a nice kid next door.

"He's certainly not a hardened criminal or any such thing like that."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman