MAN RELEASED AFTER COCAINE TURNED OUT TO BE CORN SUGAR

A 38-year-old Glace Bay man arrested Sunday and charged with possession of
cocaine for the purpose of trafficking was released from custody Tuesday
after the substance turned out to be corn sugar.

Kenneth Michael Fitzgerald, of Center Avenue, was scheduled to be in a
provincial courtroom today for a bail hearing on the charge, having been
remanded Monday to the correctional centre.

But during a brief court appearance Tuesday, special federal Crown
prosecutor David Iannetti said the charge was being withdrawn after
preliminary tests revealed the substance was not cocaine.

``I told them (police) it wasn't cocaine that it was corn sugar but they
didn't believe me,'' said Fitzgerald, during an interview after his release.

Corn sugar is most commonly used in home beer and wine kits to help with
fermentation.

In a press release issued Monday, advising of the arrest, police estimated
the value of the alleged drug seized from Fitzgerald at $20,000. Fitzgerald
said he had about $3.49 worth of corn sugar.

He said he's glad to be out of jail and may consider filing a complaint
against the Cape Breton Regional Police.

As for what he was doing with corn sugar in his pocket, Fitzgerald said
simply, ``I just had it on me.''

Deputy Police Chief Dave Wilson said the arresting officers had good reason
to suspect the white powdery substance found on Fitzgerald was indeed cocaine.

He said Fitzgerald was arrested on a sidewalk Sunday in Glace Bay and when
officers arrived, the suspect had two hypodermic needles protruding from
one arm and a third needle clenched in his hand.

``He was totally right out of it,'' said Wilson, adding the officers took
Fitzgerald to the hospital where he was placed under observation for 12 hours.

He was released into the custody of police and placed in the central
division lock up. He appeared in court Monday and sent to the Cape Breton
Correctional Centre.

Wilson said in preparing for the bail hearing, a preliminary test was done
on the substance with the results indicating it was not a narcotic.

He said laboratory analyses usually take about three to four months and
police wanted to be sure it was a narcotic before proceeding in court. He
said the quantity seized from Fitzgerald will be still be sent on for
analyses.

Wilson said no other suspected substances were seized from Fitzgerald.

As for any further charges, Wilson said police are continuing to
investigate allegations of death threats Fitzgerald made against three
people while in hospital. However, said the deputy, the charge may be
difficult to prove given Fitzgerald is not believed to have specifically
mentioned the names of the three people.

Corn sugar is a white powdery substance resembling icing sugar and can be
purchased in most grocery stores and all home brewery shops.