WINDSOR MAN CHARGED IN TORONTO COP CORRUPTION

A 40-year-old former Toronto drug squad officer now facing a slew of
criminal charges is a Windsor native who has been living here under
strict bail conditions since April 2002.

Const. Ned Nebojsa Maodus was charged Wednesday with 13 criminal
offences, including assault causing bodily harm, extortion and five
counts each of perjury and attempting to obstruct justice in relation
to a probe of the disbanded Toronto drug unit.

Early in the week, he was charged with possessing heroin and cocaine
for the purpose of trafficking and possession of ecstasy. The drugs
were allegedly found on his Orangeville-area property following his
first arrest on unrelated charges 21 months ago.

Maodus and five other current or former Toronto police officers were
charged with more than 40 offences after a two-year investigation by
the RCMP.

Five of the men were released on $25,000 bail Wednesday. Maodus's bail
was set at $35,000, and he is not allowed to associate with his
co-accused, leave Ontario, live anywhere but with his parents in their
home in Windsor, own weapons or ammunition or possess drugs unless
they are prescribed.

Their next court appearance is Feb. 25.

OPP officers arrested Maodus on March 21, 2002, and charged him with
sexual assault, assault, assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats
and six weapons charges. All of the alleged assaults were against one
female who cannot be identified because of a court order.

His bail conditions for those charges included residing with his
parents in Windsor and checking in at Windsor police headquarters once
a week. He was charged with assaulting a Windsor police officer when
he checked in on Nov. 19 last year, said Windsor police spokesman
Staff Sgt. Ed McNorton.

Ironically, the officer Maodus is accused of assaulting and resisting
in the execution of his duty is Const. Allen Shipley, a Windsor
officer who was suspended last month after he was charged with
possession of stolen property, break, enter and theft, breach of trust
and public mischief.

The allegations against Shipley relate to a burglary at Domestic Home
& Garden on Dec. 6 during which patio furniture and ornamental metal
lawn items were stolen and hauled away in an unmarked police vehicle.

Maodus joined the Toronto police 15 years ago. He is in the midst of a
divorce and has three children, who live with his wife.

A phone call to the home of Maodus' parents Wednesday night was
answered by a male voice.

When asked if they knew Maodus, the man said "I can't help you buddy,
sorry," before hanging up.

Maodus, who is six foot three and weighs 260 pounds, had not served
with a drug unit since 1999 and he had been off work with chronic back
problems for about 100 days prior to the alleged discovery of the
drugs in Orangeville.

The five active officers and one retired constable who worked in the
force's central field command drug squad appeared in court Wednesday
upon the conclusion of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police-led probe
stemming from incidents dating back to 1997.

"I am deeply saddened and disappointed," said Toronto police Chief
Julian Fantino. "Without a doubt, this whole situation is indeed quite
regrettable."

The allegations relate to falsified notes and internal police records,
giving false testimony in court, swearing false information in order
to obtain search warrants and failing to account for evidence seized
from crime scenes, such as drugs or money, said RCMP Chief
Superintendent John Neily, the head of a task force formed in August
2001, at Fantino's request, to investigate corruption allegations.