EVIDENCE GONE TO POT

Maybe Banff resident Ryan McNeil simply had a case of the munchies.

What McNeil didn't have was an intent to obstruct a police officer when he
chowed down a suspected marijuana cigarette, a Calgary judge has ruled.

Justice Peter McIntyre, in a written ruling obtained yesterday by the Sun,
said McNeil wasn't guilty because not all the evidence was destroyed.

"The police had the opportunity to prove the accused was in possession of a
narcotic, but chose not to do so," he said, noting remnants of a leaf were
not brought in for analysis.

McIntyre agreed with a lower court decision acquitting McNeil. McNeil was
charged last Aug. 9 after RCMP Cpl. W.F. Young spotted him and others males
sharing a "small cigarette."

When Young approached, McNeil extinguished the cigarette and put it in his
mouth.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett