COPS BUST DRUG LAB

Noxious Fumes Send 2 Officers To Hospital

Two city cops were treated for exposure to toxic chemicals after
police raided a St. Vital townhouse early yesterday morning and
uncovered a clandestine drug lab in the basement. Police suspect the
lab housed noxious and potentially explosive substances used to cook
up illicit street drugs, including methamphetamine, ecstasy and the
date-rape drug GHB.

"We won't know how many drugs or what kind of drugs were being
produced until the chemicals are examined," said Winnipeg police
spokeswoman Const. Shelly Glover. "With a meth lab, it takes a lot of
time to examine the chemicals."

Eight people -- including three small children -- were evacuated from
suite No. 4 at 50 Chesterfield Ave. Two of the occupants were arrested
and facing possible charges related to illegal drug
manufacturing.

Members of the Winnipeg police emergency response unit (ERU) stormed
the Manitoba Housing Authority complex shortly after 2 a.m., armed
with a search warrant on suspicion there were firearms hidden in the
suite. The housing complex is across the street from Victor Mager, a
kindergarten to Grade 9 school.

Three Children

The officers located two men, three women and the three children, who
neighbours say ranged from a toddler to an elementary school-aged child.

Neighbour Leanne Kabe, 22, said she watched in horror from her kitchen
window as the ERU officers -- with their guns drawn -- evacuated the
townhouse across from hers.

"I have three small kids," Kabe said. "Our kids play together. They go
to school together. It's something you don't expect to happen in your
neighbourhood, especially when you know the people."

Before clearing the suite, cops detected a strong odour coming from
the basement and suspected a drug lab.

The Winnipeg police clandestine lab unit was called in, and with help
from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and a Health Canada chemist,
a small drug lab was located in the basement, Glover said.

Shortly after 1 p.m., four ERU members experienced various medical
symptoms associated with exposure to the noxious fumes and at least
two of them went to hospital.

Their conditions were unknown at press time last night.

Child and Family Services took custody of the three children. It was
unknown whether the kids will require medical attention.

Neighbours said the mother has lived in the suite for at least four
years, and cops have visited the home as recently as last summer for
reports of loud parties and other disturbances.

"We've been noticing people coming in and out of there for the last
few months," Kabe said, adding she never guessed the residence was
housing a drug lab.

"This is a girl that I've had watch my kids before, you know," she
said of the tenant. "It's really scary."

Emergency personnel weren't taking any chances. Officers and
firefighters donned protective suits to cart out several containers of
unknown chemicals.

Police were expected to finish their interrupted search for weapons
last night or today.

Manitoba Environment officials also have yet to determine whether the
townhouse is still habitable, Glover said.