POLICE PROBE BAR OWNERSHIP

One Toronto Officer Charged In Drug Sweep Could Be In 'Conflict Of
Interest' With Lounge

Const. Patrick Lee, one of two Toronto police officers charged
earlier this week with running a large-scale criminal enterprise, is
under investigation again, this time for owning a bar, police said yesterday.

Property records show that Lee owns Turbo Lounge, a licensed
establishment at 5310 Yonge St., just north of Sheppard Ave.

"We're looking into that bar," said Toronto police spokesperson Mark
Pugash. "Our view generally is that owning a licensed premises would
constitute a conflict of interest."

Lee, 31, and Const. Kevin Bourne, 33, are two of 20 people facing 115
combined charges for allegedly producing and distributing marijuana
and laundering the proceeds.

Both officers were freed on bail yesterday along with a majority of
the others, which include three correctional officers, a contractor
and a real estate agent.

The accused were arrested Thursday in a massive sweep that turned up
dozens of marijuana grow-ops and netted three houses, five vehicles,
$60,000 in cash and drugs, such as marijuana and steroids.

Bail hearings will continue in a Newmarket courtroom Monday.

By owning a bar, Lee, an eight-year veteran of the force, could be
found in contravention of the Police Services Act, which states that
an officer can't "engage in any action" that puts them in conflict of
interest with their duties.

Just hours after Lee and Bourne were released from custody yesterday,
sneaking out the back door of the Newmarket courthouse, staff at
Turbo Lounge were preparing to open for the evening.

Lee has been on stress leave for much of the last year and working at
the north collision reporting centre on Toryork Dr. He has also been
running the bar, a source close to the case said.

"I guess now he'll be spending all his time there," the source said.

Both constables, suspended from the Toronto police with pay, were
released on $50,000 bail. Some others, including Bourne's wife Wendy
Bourne, who is also facing charges, were released on $20,000 bail.

Outside the Newmarket courthouse yesterday, police lawyer Gary
Clewley said his clients were treated fairly.

"They're happy to be out, relieved," he said. "And we'll get on with
the business of defending them. Let's not jump to any conclusions
about their guilt or innocence."

Lee, wearing a white tank top, sandals and shorts, and Bourne bowed
their heads in the prisoner's box yesterday.

Lee's mother wept as Justice of the Peace Rhonda Shousterman
explained his bail conditions and that breaking them could mean
losing the family home.

"Would you like a tissue?" Shousterman asked. "You're really putting
yourself on the line for your son."

Bourne's father Lennard, a schoolteacher with an income of around
$84,000 a year, faced Shousterman without looking at his son.

Each person released yesterday must abide by many of the same
conditions, including reporting to York Region police once a week,
surrendering passports and giving up any cell phones.

Most of those charged were not permitted to speak to their co-accused
except for Lee and Bourne, whose spouses also face charges.

Bourne was ordered to stay at 27 Vania Dr., one of the properties
searched in Thursday's raids. It contained a grow-op in the basement,
police said.

The house, which was empty yesterday, had orders tacked on the door
in red tape "to remedy unsafe conditions inside," including holes in
the foundation and compromised electrical wiring.

Property records indicate the house, a two-storey on a quiet street,
was previously owned by Adam Valenti, one of the 20 accused. A source
close to the case said that many of those facing charges lived in the
houses they bought and sold as part of the enterprise.

Bourne's neighbours were shocked yesterday afternoon and left
wondering whether their higher-than normal electrical bills had
something to do with the grow-op next door. Jackie Rahana, 29, said
her bills have increased threefold in the last year, jumping from the
usual $200 a month to more than $1,050 last month.