PEEL CONSTABLE FACES NINE NEW CHARGES

New criminal charges have been laid against a veteran Peel police
officer in connection with alleged possession of drugs and stolen property.

Const. Sheldon Cook, 38, has now been charged with nine new offences,
including attempting to possess a controlled substance, possession of
marijuana and possession of more than 20 allegedly stolen MP3 players
as well as several breaches of trust.

The 14-year veteran police officer, who is currently suspended with
pay, is also being sued along with other Peel police officers for
$14.6 million by former Toronto Argonaut linebacker Orlando Bowen,
30, in connection with an alleged wrongful arrest and beating.

Cook was charged initially last Nov. 18 with breach of trust and
trafficking and possessing 15 kilos of cocaine that was allegedly
found hidden in a storage area at his Cambridge residence.

But the drugs turned out to be white flour -- not cocaine -- and were
part of a controlled delivery being orchestrated by RCMP drug
investigators working a case.

"They have finally admitted there was never any cocaine," Cook's
lawyer Alan Gold said. "Neither Mr. Cook nor any of the other
officers ever believed for one minute this was cocaine."

Gold said his client intends to "vigorously fight" all charges against him.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan 15-17.

Federal Crown prosecutor Fergus O'Donnell yesterday said the new
charges replace the original offences laid when the RCMP arrested Cook.

He said the RCMP now allege that a quantity of marijuana was also
discovered during their initial search warrant as well as 22 MP3
players, allegedly stolen between August and November.

Cook has been charged with attempted possession of a controlled
substance for the purpose of trafficking; possession of marijuana for
the purpose of trafficking; two counts of possession of stolen
property; possession of property obtained by crime and four breaches
of trust in connection with the charges.