COP FIRES GUN IN DOPE BUST

An undercover drug cop is being probed after a shot was fired during the
arrest of a suspected crack dealer who rammed a cruiser with his car and
nearly ran down an officer.

York Regional Police said Tuesday afternoon's incident in the parking lot
of a Vaughan motel is under review by the force's professional standards
branch.

"Anytime an officer's firearm is discharged, the professional standards
branch is called in to investigate the circumstances," Const. Jerry
Robertson said yesterday.

Drove Car At Cruiser

He said a team of vice and drug cops were about to arrest a motorist at the
Pinecrest Motel on Hwy. 7 when the man drove his car at a cruiser in a
failed bid to escape.

The motorist then accelerated toward a cop on foot when a veteran officer
approached the car door and fired a single shot from his .40-calibre
Beretta, Robertson said.

"He (the accused) stopped the car and surrendered right away," he said.

Robertson said no one was injured during the arrest. He would not say if
the bullet struck the accused's vehicle.

A search of a Toronto residence turned up three ounces of crack cocaine
worth $10,000 and more than $18,000 cash, police said.

Numerous Charges

Devon McCarthy, 40, of Hullmar Dr., is charged with three counts of
trafficking a controlled substance, two counts each of possession for the
purpose of trafficking and proceeds of crime and one count of dangerous driving.