POT RAID TOO MUCH: LASQUETI RESIDENTS

Residents of Lasqueti Island had an opportunity to voice their
frustrations Wednesday night over police tactics they deemed excessive
during a raid on marijuana grow operations last weekend.

Members from the RCMP Eradication Team crisscrossed the island during
the two-day raid, flying low over homes and properties and hauling out
an estimated 1,700 marijuana plants.

Wednesday's meeting, which drew an estimated 100 islanders out of the
400 permanent residents, had been set up two months previously to
discuss a variety of issues with members of the Oceanside RCMP
detachment. However, the meeting's close proximity to the raid made
the pot bust the main topic of debate.

In an interview, Lasqueti resident Wayne Bright said he sympathized
with the RCMP's requirement to uphold the law, but argued they were
too zealous in their actions.

"It was like Apocalypse Now without the Wagner," he said. "They don't
understand the fear and intimidation they cause."

Bright said a police chopper broke off the top of his cedar tree as
officers attempted to look in his greenhouse.

At the meeting, he said, residents expressed their anger at being
termed a "marijuana Mecca" by police.

"You guys over there have electricity and people with grow shows can
do four crops a year," he said.

"There's a lot more pot grown in Parksville and Nanaimo, but we get
the reputation because of the publicity."

His comments were echoed by resident Chris Bearchell.

"Police press releases have characterized us as being under the
influence of organized crime," she said. "An even more ludicrous
accusation was that pot was such an integral part of the economy it
served as currency. Dozens of business people in the audience were
appalled."

Bearchell said the type of enforcement activity seen on Lasqueti would
not have been tolerated in a less isolated setting.

For their part, police said the meeting was valuable, and conceded
that some concerns may be valid.

"There were a variety of opinions, but many were concerned about how
their community is being portrayed in the media," Oceanside RCMP Sgt.
Bruce Wright said. "We are very open to their concerns and we want to
respond to specifics. Lasqueti is a great community, with great
people. It's just a small percentage who may be involved in illegal
activities and that unfortunately gives a bad name to the rest."

He noted that Staff Sgt. Bill van Otterloo was back on Lasqueti
Thursday to look into reports of damage being done.

"If we were at fault, we'll make restitution," Sgt. Wright said,
noting that local officers were called in to deal with a 700-plant
grow operation in a shed, while the bulk of the operation was
conducted by the RCMP eradication team based in Nanaimo.