AREA FIRE CHIEF FACES DRUG CHARGES - POLICE SAY DRUGS WEREN'T HIS

Asphodel-Norwood's fire chief is facing drug charges even though
police acknowledge he is not responsible for drugs found in his home,
Peterborough County OPP said.

Paul Bitten, 45, of Helen Street and his common-law girlfriend, Pamela
White, 35, were charged Wednesday after the Kawartha Combined Forces
Drug Unit raided his house and seized cocaine and marijuana, Staff
Sgt. Gary Collins said.

Two youths were also charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine
as well as failing to comply with a court order.

"This is going to ruin his life," Collins said.

Collins said Bitten was not arrested, adding that when a house is
searched for drugs, it's procedure to charge everyone who was there at
the time.

"This is going to seriously damage my credibility," Bitten said.

"I had nothing to do with it and I knew nothing about the drugs."

Collins said police also found two marijuana grow rooms set up with
lamps and heaters, but no plants were found in either room.

"If we had caught them with plants in the grow rooms that would be a
different story," Collins said. "If you don't catch them with drugs
you've got nothing."

Police are calling the amount of drugs found on the scene as "small."

The value for both the cocaine and the marijuana is estimated at
around $100.

"This is really a minor case," Collins said.

"The only reason you're interested in this is because he is a fire
chief which is not even a position of trust.

"Also, $100 is a very small amount of cocaine, it's just a bit of powder."

Police say they also found some improperly stored shotgun shells and
seized throwing knives.

"Throwing knives are a prohibited item that were found on the
premises," Collins said.

"They are usually purchased as a souvenirs in other countries and
brought back to Canada without knowing they are illegal in this country."

Bitten said he has not resigned and has no plan to leave his position
as fire chief.

"I did not resign because I'm not guilty," he said. "I had no part in
these offences."

Asked if he was confident his name would be cleared, he said "the
justice system doesn't work that way."

"In a small community you are guilty until you are proven innocent,"
Bitten said.

White is in custody and is to appear in Ontario Court of Justice
tomorrow. Bitten is to appear in court Aug. 3.

The two youths are to appear in court Aug. 14.