COP WAS ORDERED TO AVOID 5

3 Are Currently Facing Charges

THREE OF five alleged "ne'er-do-wells" that cocaine-addicted Toronto cop
John Pepper was ordered to avoid when freed on bail in February are less
than half his age, court records show. The three -- ages 17, 18 and 23 --
are now before the courts on criminal charges, including drug possession
and making threats with a weapon.

It isn't clear if the charges are linked to Pepper's case.

Pepper, 49, a 29-year veteran, was charged with drug possession Feb. 20
after he was allegedly found with drugs and a crack pipe following
allegations that he had been on a week-long cocaine "bender."

The charge was not made public, as is usually the case.

A 911 CALL

Pepper did not come to public light until Friday, when he was charged with
assault and breach of probation after police responded to a 911 emergency
call in Etobicoke.

The alleged assault was on an 18-year-old male.

Toronto Police officials admit the February drug charge was not made
public, citing "compassionate reasons."

Sources say top brass put the lid on the Pepper case because it would look
bad in the face of the drug-squad scandal.

Police Services Act charges allege that Pepper was hanging out with "known
criminals" in the days before his arrest.

Pepper was ordered to stay away from four males and a female when released
on $500 bail Feb. 24.

Court transcripts show that Pepper's lawyer, Gary Clewley, said Pepper
would agree to stay away from certain ne'er-do-wells "whose association is
getting him into trouble."

The 17-year-old male is currently charged by Peel Regional Police.

Court officials would not reveal the nature of the charges, citing the
Youth Criminal Justice Act.

SEPARATE CHARGES

The 18-year-old male faces three separate charges in Toronto.

One charge relates to fabricating evidence. The offence was alleged to have
happened Jan. 23, but the charge was not sworn until Feb. 24.

A second charge which relates to a breach of probation and a third charge
of threatening with a weapon were laid in March.

The 23-year-old is charged with possessing under 30 grams of marijuana. Sun
library files show the man was charged in October 2002 with three counts of
robbery, two counts of wearing a disguise and with obstructing police. Peel
police nabbed the man in a sting operation. The disposition of those
charges is not known at this time.

The fourth male and the female do not come up in court checks.