METH BUST SUSPECT SUES POLICE

Albertan Alleges He Was Injured And Defamed

An Alberta man accused of helping divert large quantities of a legal
drug into making methamphetamine is suing authorities for allegedly
defaming him and injuring him during his arrest.

Aubrey Bruneau of Hanna has filed a statement of claim in Manitoba's
Court of Queen's Bench seeking unspecified damages relating to his
2004 arrest in Winnipeg, Man.

Bruneau's claim alleges excessive force by police has caused a
permanent injury to his shoulder and that public statements by two
RCMP spokesmen wrongly accused him of taking part in a cross-border
network allegedly smuggling ephedrine into the U.S. for use in making
crystal meth.

"At the time, I had absolutely no concept of what ephedrine was,"
Bruneau said in a recent interview.

Bruneau, 46, was one of 17 people arrested in Canada and he remains
charged with conspiracy to produce methamphetamine and conspiracy to
export a controlled substance (ephedrine).

The criminal charges against Bruneau and his co-accused have yet to be
heard in court.

Likewise, the allegations in Bruneau's statement of claim remain
unproven in court, nor have any of the defendants filed a statement of
defence.

The RCMP refused comment on the lawsuit.

Bruneau, who owns an auto restoration business in Hanna, doesn't deny
hauling ephedrine to Winnipeg -- but said he did it simply as a favour
to his brother, Rodger Bruneau, who owned a chain of gyms and a health
supplement business.

Ephedrine is the main ingredient in many decongestants and has a legal
use in weight-loss and diet supplements.

It is also the main ingredient in methamphetamine, and is sought after
by criminals who acquire it in bulk or extract it from
over-the-counter medication to make crystal meth.

Canadian and American police alleged a ring centred in Manitoba and
run by Rodger Bruneau managed to smuggle 9,000 kilograms of ephedrine
into the U.S. -- a quantity capable of making $14.5 million in meth.

Aubrey Bruneau said he made three road trips to Winnipeg between
January and June 2004, hauling ephedrine he believes was destined for
use in legal health supplements.

"I wasn't exactly hiding," Bruneau said, adding he pulled the
ephedrine behind his vintage GMC truck in labelled barrels on an open
trailer.

"I enjoyed the trips, had a ball -- I took my kids out there -- and
thought nothing of it."

Meanwhile, police on both sides of the border had been watching Rodger
Bruneau and dozens of associates for more than a year.

After collecting hours of wiretaps and gleaning intelligence from a
confidential informant, police swooped down in a number of
co-ordinated raids on Sept. 15, 2004.

Winnipeg police and RCMP officers arrested Aubrey Bruneau in a hotel
parking lot. He said he was on his way to a drag racing convention in
Kansas City, Mo. he hoped would drum up exposure for his business.

Aubrey Bruneau's statement of claim alleges the actions of eight
unnamed officers involved in the takedown -- identified as John and
Jane Doe 1 through 8 -- caused permanent damage to his left shoulder.

"The Plaintiff now has to live in constant pain from his injuries and
has only limited mobility in his shoulder and arm," the claim reads.

At the same time, RCMP officers raided Aubrey Bruneau's business in
Hanna, alleging they found two 25-kilogram bags of ephedrine inside.

Aubrey Bruneau's lawsuit claims the substance wasn't ephedrine.

"It was fructose," he said in an interview, adding it was intended for
use in supplements.

As with the civil suit, the RCMP refused comment on the criminal case
while it remains before the courts.

The alleged mastermind, Rodger Bruneau, died of medical causes in Feb.
2005 but the charges against dozens in the U.S. and 16 people in
Canada remain.

For his part, Aubrey Bruneau said he will be exonerated -- though he
acknowledged others may have been involved in criminal activity.

"I can't discount the possibility that some of the ephedrine ended up
in the wrong hands," he said. "I can't see this whole big thing
getting underway without there being something to it."

In addition to the arresting officers, Aubrey Bruneau's suit names the
Attorney General of Canada, the City of Winnipeg, Winnipeg police
Chief Jack Ewatski and RCMP spokesmen Sgt. Steve Colwell and Cpl.
Wayne Oakes as defendants.