OFFICER CHARGED IN COCAINE BUST

15 Kilograms Found in House

Constable Linked to Ex-Argo's Case

A Peel police officer has been charged with drug trafficking and other
related offences involving cocaine with a street value of more than
$500,000.

Const. Sheldon Cook, 38, was arrested by RCMP officers at his
residence on Friday night where it's alleged 15 kilograms of cocaine
were found hidden in a storage area.

Neither the RCMP nor Peel police would comment on the arrest, but
sources said the 14-year veteran police officer had been in charge of
guarding the drugs when they disappeared from a Peel police station in
Mississauga last Wednesday.

Peel police would only confirm the officer was assigned to 12
Division.

Cook has been involved since March 2004 in a separate case in
Brampton. A former Toronto Argonaut linebacker is accused of cocaine
possession and assaulting Cook and his partner, Const. Grant Gervais.

Oreth (Orlando) Bowen, 30, has pleaded not guilty to the charges,
claiming the two undercover officers planted the drugs on him on the
night of March 26, 2004, in the parking lot of the Locomotion strip
club on Eglinton Ave. E. and Dixie Rd. in Mississauga.

The Crown alleges that Bowen, who played four years in the Canadian
Football League, dropped a tiny bag of cocaine containing 1.7 grams
when he was arrested by the two Peel officers and then assaulted them
with fists and an elbow while trying to escape.

Defence counsel David Humphrey contends Bowen was searched without
cause and assaulted by the officers who planted the cocaine to justify
their actions that night.

At the trial, Cook testified he saw Bowen drop the drug package to the
ground. He said he was concerned after seeing a tire iron and rubber
mask in the rear seat of the former football player's car because
there had been a recent string of massage parlour robberies using disguises.

Police photographs entered at the trial showed only a child's car seat
in the back of the car.

Justice Ford Clements is expected to render his decision on that trial
on Jan. 31.

Cook made a brief appearance Saturday in a Brampton courtroom where he
was released on $5,000 bail with no deposit on a number of conditions,
including not to possess any firearms or consume or possess any
illegal drugs. He was also ordered to turn over his passport.

He has been charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine
for the purpose of trafficking and breach of trust. He is slated to
return to court Jan. 6.