COPS SEIZE COUNCILLOR'S COMPUTER

Three More Taken From Former Politician WHO Says It's
"Intimidation"

RCMP seized the computer of Mission councillor Jenny Stevens on Monday
night in relation to a breach of trust investigation, the
Abbotsford-Mission Times has learned.

Stevens, as well as all members of Mission council, has been advised
not to discuss why the RCMP conducted the search, but she did confirm
on Wednesday that her computer was taken by police.

"The whole thing has shook me up, to put it bluntly," said
Stevens.

"I can only hope that this whole thing gets sorted out as quickly as
possible."

In addition to Stevens' computer, officers from Mission, Chilliwack
and Surrey also confiscated three computers belonging to retired
councillor Ron Taylor.

The seizures were part of a Mission RCMP investigation into an alleged
leak from council regarding the district's controversial substance
control bylaw - better known as the marijuana grow op bylaw - said
Taylor.

He commended RCMP officers for their courtesy, but condemned the
actions of council, calling it an act of 'political
intimidation.'

"It isn't going to work. I certainly won't be intimidated by it.
Information does leak from Mission council and Mission council leaks
like a sieve.

"I intend carrying on the way I did."

The bylaw, which Taylor and Stevens have both denounced, allows
Mission's Public Safety Inspection Team to search people's homes for
grow ops if they are using more than 93 kwh of electricity per day.

Residents have been charged $5,200 inspection fee, even if no
marijuana, or signs of a grow operation are found.

Some Mission residents who feel their rights have been violated by the
searches have begun a class-action lawsuit against the District of
Mission in B.C. Supreme Court.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association is backing the
lawsuit.

Taylor claims the district hired the public relations firm, Laura
Balance Media Group, during an in-camera council meeting to help
"spin" the message about the bylaw in a more positive light.

"I think they're simply reacting because they are in panic mode over
this class-action suit that they're facing in relation to the grow op
bylaw," he said.

He said he was "absolutely convinced" the searches and seizures were
around leaked information pertaining to the grow op bylaw.

Mission Mayor James Atebe told the Times on Tuesday that he could not
comment on a police investigation.

He also admitted that he was not aware of the executed search warrants
until Tuesday when the media informed him of what happened.

Paul Gibbs, a spokesman for the district, was contacted for an
interview, but did not reply.

However, Gibbs told the Vancouver Sun the process of hiring the PR
firm was not a secret.

"There's no secret that we were having a challenge with the controlled
substance bylaw. Council reviewed it and one of the options that came
out of that is that we needed to do a better job of communicating what
we were doing and why ... so we asked to bring in help to do that," he
said.

"It was all made public in that report."

RCMP were quick to return Stevens' computer back to her because she is
visually impaired, however the investigation into a possible breach of
trust and breach of the Community Charter is still ongoing.

No charges have been laid.

Both violations do fall under the criminal code of Canada and carry
with them a maximum five-year jail term if convicted.