TOWNSHIP MUM ON FIRE CHIEF'S DRUG-RELATED CHARGES

Asphodel-Norwood Township officials are refusing comment regarding
drug charges laid against the township fire chief.

Paul Bitten was charged June 21 following a police raid of his Helen
Street home by members of the Kawartha Combined Forces Dru Unit.

A small amount of cocaine and marijuana, valued at an estimated
$100, was seized along with throwing knives and a quantity of
shotgun shells that police say were stored improperly.

In addition, police also discovered two marijuana grow rooms in the
house from which plants had been removed.

Chief Bitten didn't return calls from This Week. Neither did
Asphodel-Norwood CAO Shelley Eliopoulos. However, Township Reeve
Doug Pearcy did answer his phone but refused comment on the matter.
Asked whether the charges will affect Chief Bitten's job as
fire chief, he reiterated his position.

"I said no comment from the Township," said Reeve Pearcy sharply.

Detective Constable Jamie Brockley, a member of the drug unit, said
police executed a search warrant at the Helen Street home as a
result of a drug investigation in the village.

"We were doing some work and surveillance," he added.

Det. Const. Brockley said a man and women who were in the home at
the time of the raid were arrested, adding joint possession charges
are common. He said it's similar to drugs being found in a vehicle
where everyone gets charged, leaving it to the courts to decide if
the accused were actually in possession.

Local media reported that Peterborough County OPP said Chief Bitten
is not responsible for the drugs found in his home. On Tuesday, OPP
Staff Sergeant Gary Collins was adamant such a claim was never made.

"I said without the [marijuana] plants, we don't have much," said
Staff Sgt. Collins.

"Police did not say the drugs weren't his."

Det. Const. Brockley says the drugs found in the home were "in plain view."

"We've pretty much done our investigation. It's up to the courts to
decide if all can be charged with possession."

In total, four people were arrested in relation to the incident,
including two young offenders and a woman for whom
Peterborough-Lakefield police held an outstanding arrest warrant for.

Mr. Bitten, 45, of Helen Street, is charged with possession of
cocaine and possession of marijuana. He appears in court Aug. 3.

Pamela White, 35, of Helen Street, is charged with possession of
cocaine, possession of marijuana and breach of probation. She was
held in custody for a bail hearing.

The two young offenders are charged with possession of cocaine,
possession of marijuana and fail to comply with an undertaking. They
appear in court Aug. 14.