VIDEO OFFERS INSIDE VIEW OF TWO DRUG DEALS

THE Free Press is taking readers into rare territory -- deep inside a
pair of Winnipeg drug deals.

Thanks to undercover police surveillance, and the work of a paid
agent, the public can learn how the criminal element operates by going
to www.winnipegfreepress.com and viewing a video, of which the Free
Press has obtained a copy.

The video shows Stacy Jack Finch, a longtime city employee who got
caught in "Project Drill" when he sold informant Scotty "Taz"
Robertson 10 pounds of marijuana and nearly 1,000 crystal
methamphetamine pills last year.

Finch, 50, was arrested last month along with 17 other accused
following an extensive, year-long investigation.

He was the first to apply for bail six days later, only to change his
plea and admit guilt later in the day after viewing video of his crimes.

Defence lawyer Tim Killeen told court it was obvious there was a
strong case against his client and Finch wanted to quickly put the
matter behind him.

A tearful Finch was then sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison
under a joint agreement from Crown and defence lawyers.

The first drug deal, on Jan. 27, occurred on the Harbour View public
golf course where Finch worked. Robertson was given $23,000 in marked
money by the police, which was then paid to Finch for the marijuana.

The second, on Jan. 31, was in the parking lot of Boogie's Diner on
Main Street. Robertson paid Finch $11,000 for the small white meth
pills that were marked with brand-name logos including "Coca Cola."

Negotiations for the deals had occurred on Jan. 26 at a local
Salisbury House restaurant.

Finch has known Robertson for much of his life and was stunned to
learn he was working undercover for the police, according to his lawyer.

Manitoba Hells Angels president Dale Donovan and full-patch members
from Ontario and British Columbia were among those arrested Dec. 12 in
raids that occurred across the country.

The charges involve drug trafficking, weapons smuggling and even a
conspiracy to commit murder against a Thompson man that police say
Robertson thwarted.