INQUEST CLEARS OPP

A coroner's inquest yesterday determined nothing could have prevented
the death of Johannes Speek and offered no recommendations as a result.

The inquest was called after the Russell man died of a heart attack in
a police drug raid last year.

Speek, 57, collapsed last April when Casselman OPP stormed an Embrun
address.

Speek, one of three people arrested, complained of chest pains and
dizziness and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

An inquest is automatically launched when someone dies in police
custody.

But investigators yesterday determined nothing could have prevented
the death.

More than a year ago, the province's Special Investigations Unit
cleared the OPP officers involved of criminal responsibility for
Speek's death.

Speek's son Jonathan Lee said his dad was simply in "the wrong place
at the wrong time."