ECSTASY LINKED TO OFFICER'S ARREST

Bust involved sales of rave drug, police sources say

The underground drug culture at popular raves and the drug Ecstasy are
behind a massive police crackdown that has resulted in several arrests,
including a Toronto police officer, sources say.

While Toronto police chief Julian Fantino is tight-lipped about the ongoing
police operation that has resulted in dozens of charges, police sources say
the case involves allegations a Toronto officer was selling Ecstasy in
clubs.

The officer was then using information about drug suspects to set them up
for drug rip-offs, sources say.

Contacted yesterday, Fantino would only say the case involved "a drug
sub-culture." He was adamant that no other police officers were involved.

Michael Clarke, the lawyer representing the charged officer, said he only
met his client Friday and did not wish to make any public comment.

But Clarke did say he thought Fantino also shouldn't be making any comment
"with this matter before a court."

Fantino, who just took over as police chief of Toronto on Monday, reiterated
yesterday his zero tolerance policy when it comes to dealing with alleged
dirty cops, saying he would not like to pay them while their court case is
ongoing.

Constable Darin Cooper, a 10-year member of the Toronto force assigned to 55
Division's criminal investigation bureau, was arrested early Friday morning
along with six co-accused.

The charges, stemming from a series of fake police drug shakedowns and home
invasion robberies in Toronto and York Region, include attempted murder,
breach of trust, impersonating police, armed robbery, conspiracy, possession
of a controlled substance, possession of unregistered restricted weapons,
assault, break and enter, and possession of property obtained by crime.

Among the items seized by officers from both Toronto and York Region were a
real Toronto police badge, fake police identification, body armour, 25
handguns - one of which was issued by the Toronto force - $130,000 cash, six
luxury vehicles and about 11 kilograms of marijuana valued at $125,000.

Others arrested were: Bobby Manchev, 31, Elie Salama, 24, Peter Maroulis,
29, Nick Koulias, 29, and Mike Wassilyn, 27, all of Toronto, and Kristopher
Della-Pia, 22, of no fixed address.

The seven suspects appeared in a Newmarket court Friday afternoon.

Following the court appearance, Cooper was taken for medical attention. His
lawyer would not say how his client obtained the cuts and bruises visible to
those in the courtroom.

"I can't really comment on that," Clarke said.

All seven suspects were ordered held in custody pending bail hearings.

With files from Tracy Huffman