CROWN WANTS TO SEIZE PEEL OFFICER'S CAMBRIDGE HOME AS PROCEEDS OF CRIME

BRAMPTON - Already facing prison, convicted Peel Police officer
Sheldon Cook could also lose his financial interest in his Cambridge
home under a forfeiture application filed by federal crowns.

David Rowcliffe and Anya Weiler want to seized his stake in his home
as proceeds of crime following his drug-related convictions.

On June 23, Justice Casey Hill convicted Cook, 42, of unlawfully
attempting to possess an illegal substance for the purpose of
trafficking, three counts of breach of trust, theft and unlawful
possession of stolen property, and possession of marijuana.

The Crown is seeking a 12-year prison sentence. Defence lawyer
Patrick Ducharme is asking for two years. He will be sentenced Oct 15.

The Crown says the home is worth more than $600,000. Cook insists his
residence is worth about $450,000 and angrily lashed out at Rowcliffe
in a Brampton courtroom on Tuesday, accusing him of "under handed"
tactics in inflating the appraisal price of his home.

As an officer, Cook said he's been in homes where drugs and guns have
been on tables but nobody ever tried to take their home.

"You're trying to throw my family out on the street . . . it's
disgusting," Cook said, accusing Rowcliffe of having a personal
vendetta against him.

The Crown suggested during his trial that Cook was living beyond his
means. Cook agreed his home would be worth more if the home was in Toronto.

"My ceilings aren't lined with gold," Cook said.

Cook's in-laws live in the basement of the home and have claimed an
interest in it.

Under the forfeiture, the government would own 50 per cent. Cook's
wife or in-laws could buy back her husband's interest or the
government and she would sell the property and split the proceeds.

Cook spent 16 years as a police officer. Using a GPS tracking device,
the RCMP found 15 bricks of a missing shipment of dummy cocaine
inside a personal watercraft in his garage in November 2005.

Hill found him guilty of seven criminal offences, including some
related to the disappearance of fake cocaine that was being used in
an RCMP drug sting.

Cook maintained his innocence throughout his trial, insisting he was
set up by other officers. He knew the bricks of cocaine were fake and
insisted he was ordered by superiors to take them to his house.

Record news services/Toronto Star