IT WAS AN AMBUSH

RCMP Massacre Source Claims One Mountie Was Unarmed

MOUNTIES YESTERDAY confirmed that killer James Roszko had lain in wait
before opening fire on officers with a high-powered rifle. And while
Mounties in Mayerthorpe, Alta., have said repeatedly the four officers who
were slain in an ambush were well-prepared, a Sun source claims at least
one wasn't wearing an armoured vest and wasn't even armed when he was murdered.

The source identified that officer as Mayerthorpe Const. Peter Schiemann
who -- along with Consts. Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston and Brock Myrol --
was gunned down in cold blood after being ambushed by Roszko, 46.

"Our officers, all four of them, were shot and killed by James Roszko,"
regional Supt. Marty Cheliak said yesterday, releasing results of
post-mortem examinations.

"None of our officers were struck by friendly fire. James Roszko was hit by
return fire by our officers. Those strikes did not result in his death.
James Roszko then took his own life."

'Snuck UP On Them'

Cheliak labelled the attack an "ambush" but wouldn't elaborate.

Roszko's father, Bill Roszko, said yesterday his police-hating son was
quite capable of laying a trap by using his marijuana plants as bait to
lure RCMP into a deadly ambush.

"Jim wasn't there when they got there, so he snuck up on them later," Bill
Roszko said. "The four police all got shot right in the steel building,
right where the marijuana was. It seems to me he must of snuck up on them
as part of some kind of set-up and then shot them. It seems like he was
waiting for them to go to the marijuana.

"He had a lot of anger against the police. He hated the police," Bill
Roszko said.

Roszko was a convicted child molester, a community menace and a known
cop-hater. It was common knowledge he had weapons on his farm.

Cheliak wouldn't speak directly to suggestions the four men -- who were
said by cops to be wearing soft body armour that couldn't withstand bursts
from Roszko's semi-automatic, assault-style rifle -- were sent into the
situation ill-prepared.

He said they were well trained, were aware of the danger and had a 12-gauge
shotgun and a .308-calibre long-barrel rifle along with their 9-mm handguns.

Mounties denied any knowledge of allegations that Schiemann was not wearing
body armour or carrying his issued sidearm when he was killed.

The officers were on Roszko's farm to investigate a marijuana grow
operation and stolen auto parts, all of which was found in a Quonset hut.

Evidence of the carnage, including blown out windows of police vehicles and
blood-stained snow, could still be scene at the farm yesterday as cops
combed the area with metal detectors and dogs.

Police also said they had located the vehicle Roszko had been driving
before he ambushed the officers.

Mayerthorpe Mounties were called at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday by a bailiff who
was attempting to seize a truck.

A marijuana grow operation and stolen auto parts were discovered in the
Quonset.

The grow-op was investigated that night, but the stolen property case was
left to Thursday morning.

A pair of officers stayed behind to guard the farm overnight and two more
arrived in the morning.

Cheliak said investigators weren't sure how Roszko managed to slip back
into the Quonset hut while police were watching it in the hours prior to
the Thursday-morning shooting.

Cheliak did not make it clear if one of the officers shot Roszko or whether
it was two additional officers who arrived after the shooting and exchanged
gunfire with Roszko.

Police said they found about 300 marijuana plants. That amount of pot could
be worth as much as $400,000.

Roszko said his son had a long history of marijuana use although he never
knew if he was growing it.

"The first time we caught Jim with marijuana he was hiding it under his
mattress when he was 13," Roszko said. "I'm sure he spent a lot of his time
all doped up."