FORMER COP IN COURT

A former North Vancouver Mountie appeared in court on Wednesday to face six
marijuana trafficking charges.

Scott Randall Simpson, 38, is also charged with possessing marijuana,
psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and hashish and stealing a "cobra fashioned
smoking pipe."

The marijuana trafficking charges which includes two charges of possession
for trafficking purposes date back to events alleged to have occurred
between February 1998 to Feb. 17, 1999. Simpson was arrested on Feb. 16 at
work at the North Vancouver RCMP detachment. Simpson's home was searched as
part of the investigation. The search warrant was sealed by police,
preventing public scrutiny.

With drug charges pending, the suspended 12-year RCMP veteran quit work on
March 3. He had worked in North Vancouver for more than three years as a
patrol officer.

According to the charges, Simpson allegedly trafficked marijuana to a male,
in Richmond and in North Vancouver District. He alleged trafficked marijuana
to another person in North Vancouver District.He allegedly possessed
marijuana, magic mushrooms and hashish in the basement suite of a house in
the 3200-block of Regent Avenue in the Carisbrooke area on Feb. 16. The pipe
was allegedly stolen between Jan. 1, 1995 and Dec. 31, 1997 in North
Vancouver District, according to the charges.

The North Vancouver RCMP conducted the drug investigation. The charges were
approved by the Department of Justice in Vancouver. Drug charges are usually
approved by the local federal Crown prosecutor, but an
exception was made in this case.Simpson is scheduled for a North Vancouver
provincial court appearance on April 21 to fix a date for trial. An internal
private investigation by North Vancouver RCMP into Simpson's actions continues.