SPECIAL CONSTABLE ARRESTED IN RAID

A part-time Hamilton special constable has been suspended without pay
after being arrested in a drug raid.

Macklin Hoang, 24, is a civilian who works on-call with the police
service. Hoang and four of his relatives were taken into custody at
their Crooks Street home, in the area of Barton and Locke streets,
around 2:30 a.m. yesterday.

Police say they seized marijuana, ecstasy pills and electronic scales
during the search, along with $7,500 in cash and three four-foot
marijuana plants growing in the back yard.

Hoang has been with the service for a year and police said there have
been no on-the-job reprimands or documented problems.

"This member was a special constable that worked in our custody
department," said Deputy Chief Ken Leendertse. "So he would be
involved with booking the prisoners."

Leendertse said the raid is the culmination of a six-week
investigation by vice and drugs officers. All of the people arrested
face charges of drug trafficking and possession of the proceeds of
crime.