'JUST COPS EVERYWHERE'

Multiple Shooting Shatters Peace Of North Glengarry

GREENFIELD -- A major crime scene where a man was found dead Friday
has shattered the tranquility residents have come to enjoy in this
North Glengarry community.

"The soccer games are the most noise you would have in a week," Roch
Thibodeau said, pointing to a soccer pitch across from his home on
Kenyon Concession 5.

But ever since a swarm of cops and paramedics rushed to the scene of
a shooting Friday afternoon, there has been a constant stream of
vehicles coming and going from the crime scene, less than a kilometre
down the road from Thibodeau's house.

"It's just been cops everywhere," Thibodeau, 32, said.

COMBING PROPERTY

A multiple shooting at 18985 Kenyon Concession 5, west of Alexandria
about 75 km east of Ottawa, has the OPP combing the property for
evidence this weekend. Police have released few details about how a
man died and how two other men ended up with critical and serious
gunshot injuries.

The status of the two injured men, who are in an Ottawa hospital, was
unchanged yesterday. Meanwhile, the body of the dead man was removed
from the Greenfield-area property at around 3:20 p.m., exactly 24
hours after emergency services were called to the scene. An autopsy
is scheduled for this morning in Ottawa.

While the circumstances surrounding the shooting are sketchy, police
have said it's in relation to a marijuana grow operation.
Investigators seized a firearm at the scene.

Sgt. Kristine Rae said charges are pending against two men who are in
police custody. They were expected to make a video appearance in court today.

Police yesterday were having difficulty confirming the identities off
all five men involved in the incident.

There are also questions about when the shooting took place.

One emergency services source said preliminary information suggested
the wounds on the two injured men were inflicted at two different
times before noon Friday.

Lise and Yvon Leblanc live directly across from the suspect property.

"The first we heard was four or five shots in the morning and we
thought it was hunters," Lise Leblanc said.

HELICOPTER CIRCLING

The 62-year-old woman said she left home to get groceries in Cornwall
at around 8:30 a.m. Friday. When she returned just before 4:30 p.m.,
she saw a helicopter circling above.

"I could see the helicopter and I got scared because my husband has a
heart problem and I thought something happened to him," Leblanc said.

Neighbours said a Montreal man owns the suspect property, but he
doesn't live there.

Jason Pallen, 68, said he often talks with the landowner when he
comes by the property. Pallen said he hasn't seen him since around
the middle of summer.

There's a square-log house and separate workshop on the property, Pallen said.

Because of tall trees and brush, the buildings can't be seen from the road.

Pallen was taken aback Friday when a cop told his family to lock the door.

'CALL 911'

"She said if it's not a police officer that comes, call 911," Pallen recalled.

Marijuana grow ops aren't foreign to this area of Eastern Ontario. In
August 2004, OPP found more than 6,000 plants northwest of
Alexandria. A month later, police seized $1.6 million worth of pot at
area grow ops.