Pubdate: Thu, 06 May 2010
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Andrea Woo

EX-VANCOUVER COP GRANTED BAIL

Former Vancouver police officer Peter Hodson was released on $65,000 
bail with numerous conditions Wednesday as his parents watched 
quietly from the Main Street courtroom's gallery.

Hodson, wearing red prison attire, remained mostly expressionless as 
Provincial Court Judge Jeanne Watchuk listed the conditions of his release.

Hodson was fired as a police constable and arrested April 21 on 
several charges, including drug trafficking.

The bail conditions imposed Wednesday require Hodson to surrender his 
passport and remain in B.C.; return all police-issued belongings, 
including his badge, uniform and baton; abide by a curfew from 
midnight to 6 a.m.; have only one telephone, either a cellphone or a 
land line; and not consume alcohol outside of his White Rock home.

Hodson is also forbidden from entering a large area of the city that 
includes all of east Vancouver, except to attend court or work at his 
construction job.

Hodson's lawyer, Vincent Michaels, called the conditions "stringent," 
but not overly onerous. "My primary interest, of course, was getting 
my client out of jail as quickly as possible on terms he could live 
with and continue his life," said Michaels outside the court. He also 
urged the public not to jump to conclusions based on accusations. "We 
all remember many cases in the past where the evidence appeared to be 
overwhelming and the result at the end of the proceedings was 
something very different," Michaels said. "It's important to keep 
that in mind."

Michaels said his client -- who is "doing well" and is "in good 
spirits, all things considered" -- plans to plead not guilty.

Hodson, 31, was arrested after an exhaustive police investigation and 
charged with trafficking marijuana, break-and-enter with intent to 
commit extortion and two counts of breach of trust, one for selling 
drugs and the other for illegal use of a police database.
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