BOOBY TRAP FOUND AT POT GROW-OP

Calls For Stiffer Jail Sentences

AFTER FINDING a potentially deadly live-wire booby trap at a
Scarborough grow operation yesterday, fire officials are again urging
stiffer jail sentences for pot growers. A bust yesterday uncovered a
marijuana grow house which had live wires linked to window bars that
could have killed anyone who stumbled across it, police said.

"This is something that is considered a major concern," said Scott
Marks, president of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters
Association. "Something has to be done because this is a major threat
to personal safety."

Under current law, setting a trap nets a maximum five-year prison
term.

Front-line firefighters and police officers can be at risk from
explosives, trip-wired firearms and false floors in marijuana-grow
ops.

The booby traps are set to impede police or rival criminal gangs,
police said.

"It is such a concern enough that we have gone to Ottawa federal
politicians to try and get stiffer penalties for people charged in
these types of offences," Marks said.

Police said one man was arrested yesterday but they did not comment on
the charges.

Last year, the Liberal government introduced new legislation aimed at
better protecting firefighters and police.

The legislation -- still to be passed -- proposes a 10-year maximum
sentence under the Criminal Code which would jump to 14 years if an
emergency worker is injured or a life sentence if one is killed.

Residents near the grow-op on Bramblebrook Ave., in the
Midland-McNicoll area, said they were concerned that children could
have accidentally touched one of the wires.

"Kids are curious and kids play, what would have happened if one of
them had accidentally touched one of those bars to grab a wayward
ball?" John Rory said. "It's scary."