JAIL GUARD SUING OVER STRIP SEARCH

A federal jail guard is suing the attorney general of Canada for
$150,000 following a drug search of her car in a penitentiary parking
lot by OPP officers who were allegedly acting on a false tip.

According to court documents, Bonnie Fellows, a 14-year veteran
correctional officer, is suing the federal and provincial attorneys
general, two OPP officers and two correctional officers over a Jan.
15, 2003, incident in which her van was searched. Fellows was
allegedly handcuffed and strip-searched.

The statement of claim contains a number of unproven allegations. No
statement of defence has yet been filed.

Fellows' statement of claim says the searches produced no evidence of
illegal activity and alleges she was the victim of a plot by inmates
to discredit her.

The claim alleges the defendants should know that jailhouse informants
were "generally deceitful, deceptive and unreliable." It also alleges
inmates know they can get rid of guards they don't like by spreading
rumours.

More Allegations

Fellows' statement of claim alleges there was no search warrant and
alleges her arrest was illegal as she wasn't told why she was being
arrested.

She alleges the search defamed her reputation and compromised her
authority with inmates.

Chris Stafford, a spokesman for the Ontario region of the Correctional
Service of Canada, refused to comment specifically.

However, he did say searches on CSC property do not require a warrant
and anyone entering a jail may have their belongings searched.