YORK COP, SPOUSE FACE DRUG CHARGES

Constable Surrenders At Markham Station

An eight-year veteran of York Regional Police and her husband are facing
drug charges after a search of the couple's Georgina home turned up drugs
and paraphernalia.

Police were tight lipped about how the investigation began, but drug cops
were watching the officer's husband, the owner of Herbal Health Food in
Newmarket, and pulled him over near Herald Road and Woodbine Avenue in East
Gwillimbury as he was driving home Friday.

He was arrested on drug possession and trafficking charges after officers
found cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana and hashish in the car, along with a
large quantity of pills believed to be steroids.

Officers then raided the home he shares with his wife, Const. Nadine
Morcos, a 34-year-old officer with the criminal investigative bureau in
Richmond Hill.

Marijuana, cocaine, other controlled substances and drug paraphernalia were
found in the home and Const. Morcos was charged with possession of a
controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

She surrendered to police in Markham Saturday and has been suspended with
pay, as is policy.

"It came as a shock to me and a lot of our members," York Regional Police
Chief Armand La Barge said. "It's very upsetting to me personally."

Police were keeping most of the details of the case to themselves because
it is before the courts, but Chief La Barge said there was no initial
indication the drugs were taken from any police station or were evidence in
a drug investigation.

"Those are the type of things we'll be looking into throughout the course
of the investigation," he added.

Const. Morcos has spent most of her career in uniformed patrol, having
recently been promoted to an administrative position with the criminal
investigation bureau, he said.

She has never worked as a drug investigator with York Regional Police.

The professional standards bureau is investigating.

The fact York police investigated one of its own and laid a charge should
help maintain public confidence, Chief La Barge added.

"I'm very proud of our service," he said. "We have a duty to uphold a
professional standard and when members don't, they will be held accountable."

Const. Morcos will appear in Newmarket court April 19.

Her husband, Andrew Marter, 36, has been charged with four counts of
possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, four
counts of possession of a controlled substance and producing a controlled
substance.