JIMI'S COP PACKS IT IN

Mountie Nabbed Hendrix In '69

ONE OF the RCMP's top drug fighters -- who thrust Toronto into the
spotlight for his arrest of legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix -- is packing
it in after 40 years. Bill "Mitts" Matheson, 60, estimated he's intercepted
tonnes of dope during his 35 years of battling drug runners, most of it at
Pearson airport.

"I have done more than my share," said Matheson, who will be honoured by
friends this week. "Let someone else take the job into the next century."

Toronto made international headlines when Hendrix was arrested in May 1969
as his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, was travelling from Detroit to a
sold-out concert at Maple Leaf Gardens.

The star was arrested at Pearson for drug possession and detained for six
hours.

At that time, the RCMP and Canada Customs had red-flagged rock bands
entering Canada for drug checks, which also led to the arrest of Rolling
Stones guitarist Keith Richard.

"Jimi turned out to be a real nice guy," Matheson said. "He was very
courteous and played us a tune on his guitar."

The Mounties alleged four packets of heroin and a tube for smoking hash
were found inside Hendrix's luggage.

The superstar was released on $10,000 cash bail paid by Leafs owner Harold
Ballard so he could perform for 12,500 fans -- who'd paid from $2.50 to
$5.50 for tickets.

During the December 1969 trial, Hendrix took the witness stand for two
days. The jury acquitted the guitarist.

"It is the best Christmas present Canada has ever given me," Hendrix told
reporters.

He had testified the drugs were given to him in a bottle by a female fan
after the Detroit gig. He said fans gave him hundreds of gifts and he had
thrown the bottle in his bag without inspecting it.

Hendrix left for New York City the next day and never returned to Toronto.
He died nine months later, on Sept. 18, 1970.

Since then Matheson has arrested dozens of smugglers trying to sneak drugs
into Canada through every means possible, including in the soles of shoes,
clothes, fake buttocks, hollowed golf clubs, yams, coconuts and wheelchairs.

Matheson was the first cop to start probing a ring of corrupt Pearson
employees who were allegedly making big bucks by smuggling dope into the
country.