SENSITIVE POLICE PHOTOS LAND IN WRONG HANDS

Grand Forks Man Finds Camera With Images of Corpse, Suicide Note

Evidence from several serious RCMP files is in public hands after
sloppy police work landed sensitive video images in the open.

Photographs left in police cameras on Dion Nordick's property in
Grand Forks included images of a corpse, suicide note and the
aftermath of a domestic dispute.

RCMP at the Grand Forks detachment put the home of Nordick, who goes
by the name Buck Addams, under surveillance as part of executing a
search warrant on June 13 for an alleged marijuana growing operation.

No grow-op was found. However, during the search police found spray
paint and stencils - which Addams says are used for his work making
signs - and confiscated them as possible evidence in another case
they were investigating involving graffiti vandalism.

Addams, a 33-year-old graphic artist and Web marketing specialist,
found out about the search when he arrived home to find the warrant
in his mailbox and some of his painting materials missing. However,
he was not aware that the police were continuing to spy on his home
until one day when he saw a flash go off as he left his house.

"As I got closer [to where the flash went off] I saw that it was a
hunting camera strapped to a tree. So I ripped it down off the tree,"
Addams said. "I took a look [on the other side of the driveway] and I
found another hunting camera."

Addams checked the flash drive cards to see what images the cameras
contained. One card was clear of any photos except the surveillance,
which started on June 14 at 3 a.m., according to the time stamp.

But the other card had two files with a total of 240 pictures,
including graphic images taken at crime scenes, involving a variety
of police cases. Some of the photos were very disturbing, said Addams.

"If it was my or your loved ones that were on that camera, which it
may very well be, it's not something that you want to have fall into
the hands of [members of the public]," Addams said.

Staff Sgt. Dan Seibel, operations NCO for the Kootenay boundary
regional RCMP detachment, said police used the search warrant to
place the cameras outside of Addams's property. When the police
attempted to retrieve the cameras, they were gone, he said.

"The RCMP did formally request that the cameras, which are Government
of Canada property, be returned immediately," said Seibel. "The RCMP
position remains that police were acting within our legal authority.
We are aware that photos have appeared on the camera disc; the type
of photos and file management of them have been subject to ongoing
assessment and legal review."

Seibel confirmed that the photos were attached to the original files
at the time they were taken and they are unsure why the camera cards
were not cleared according to protocol.

"We're examining the matter to determine whether the investigators
using the camera completely deleted the related images and will
determine what steps the officer took when handling and setting the
camera up," Seibel explained.

The cards are in the safekeeping of Addams's lawyer, Jesse Gelber, in
Trail. Gelber has been negotiating with the RCMP on Addams's behalf
for the return of his property, and to hold the RCMP accountable for
the surveillance fiasco.

"If there was a warrant, we haven't been provided with it yet," said
Gelber. "We're not making any accusations, we're simply asking the
police, as we've done with two separate letters that we've sent to
them, to provide an explanation of what was going on. If there's a
warrant, produce it."

The police have an entitlement to use cameras providing they meet
certain standards, according to Seibel. Seibel said the cameras were
not on Addams's property and, while not directly related to the
search warrant, that they were left in place to gather further
evidence for graffiti or another criminal investigation.

"The concern that I have is that the cameras were in fact stolen, and
efforts have been made through legal channels to have the cameras and
of course the images returned," Seibel continued. "It appears that we
have a legal defence counsel refusing to do that."

Addams confirmed that after the search was conducted he willingly
went to the police to discuss his situation and try to resolve any
questions, including his claims that he is innocent of any graffiti.

Addams has not been charged with any violations, although Crown
counsel has alleged that he is in possession of police property,
Addams added. Addams has since relocated to Nelson as a result of
what he feels is continued police harassment.