FORMER COUNCILLOR'S COMPUTERS SEIZED

Former Mission councillor Ron Taylor had three computers inside his
home seized by RCMP Monday night.

Around 7 p.m., three Mounties, one from Mission, Surrey and
Chilliwack, armed with a search warrant took the equipment to look for
alleged leaks from Mission council.

Taylor says he knew the district had asked for an RCMP investigation
months ago and wasn't surprised when they showed up on his doorstep,
but he still thinks the move was inappropriate.

Mounties confirmed two search warrants were executed simultaneously on
Monday, but wouldn't reveal where the two properties were located or
who was the complainant.

Mission RCMP has been conducting investigations into a breach of trust
and breach of the Community Charter for a while now, said Cpl. Holly
Marks.

"Computers were seized from both residences," she noted, adding the
investigation is ongoing, and no criminal charges have been laid yet.

Taylor has been vocal against the district's Public Safety Inspection
Team which scans BC Hydro data and inspects homes with higher than
average power consumption for a marijuana grow operation.

Taylor doesn't know if officials will find anything on his computer,
but in the past he has used information from closed meetings to
criticize council. He told The Record he has two sources and isn't
apologizing for his actions.

This is political intimidation, he said. "They hit my place like the
CIA going through bin Laden documents."

Taylor believes the district should be more concerned about "the
damage they're doing to the people of Mission" with its controlled
substance property bylaw than searching his computer.

The district is facing a class-action lawsuit from residents who
believe their rights were violated by the searches. The B.C. Civil
Liberties Association is supporting the court action, but as of
Monday, the district has not been served.

Mayor James Atebe called the incident a police matter and declined to
offer any comments.