DRUG COPS 'CRIMINAL': LAWYER

A lawyer whose complaints prompted a massive probe into allegations of
police corruption has likened the Toronto force's drug squad to a "criminal
organization."

In court documents filed yesterday, Edward Sapiano alleges there was a
"long-standing pattern" of "theft by search warrant" involving the Central
Field Command drug squad.

Sapiano is one of 10 lawyers who two years ago told police internal affairs
that drug dealers were complaining of cop ripoffs.

His statements were made in an application filed in the Superior Court of
Justice on behalf of a Toronto man whom police allege is a major drug dealer.

Sapiano's client, Roman Paryniuk, 39, faces numerous charges over a
$153-million hash shipment seized in Halifax in 1995, and a $3.9-million
stash of marijuana, LSD and Ecstasy and a mobile Ecstasy laboratory seized
in 1999.

The lawyer alleges in the application that drug squad members "stole money"
from Paryniuk while executing search warrants in March 1999.

For his defence of Paryniuk, Sapiano is seeking full disclosure of evidence
in criminal and police act probes into allegations of dishonesty, violence
or narcotics relating to at least 24 drug officers. Sapiano also wants
information gathered by an RCMP-led probe into the alleged corruption.

Sapiano says in the application that prosecutors should either give
disclosure or stay charges against Paryniuk. The lawyer cites six civil
lawsuits that separately allege either stolen funds or illegal acts as
"related" evidence.

FRESH ALLEGATION

He also notes in the application that eight officers from a different drug
squad were accused of misappropriating informant funds, while another three
face other criminal matters.

And in a fresh allegation, Christopher Quigley of Toronto states in an
April 23 affidavit contained in the application that after his arrest by
Staff-Sgt. John Schertzer and his team six years ago, Quigley was "severely
beaten" and taken to hospital.

He also claims in the document that while Schertzer and his team admitted
seizing $22,000, "in fact, I had $54,000 in my mother's safety deposit box,
which can be confirmed by my mother ... who put the money there herself."

Quigley, who pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and paid a $1,100 fine,
also says in the affidavit that a seven-carat sapphire and a $2,500 pair of
alligator boots were taken.

None of the allegations made by Paryniuk, Quigley or any plaintiffs in the
civil suits have been proven in court.

Statements of defence have been filed by Toronto Police defendants denying
all allegations in the civil suits.

So far, the RCMP team has laid narcotics trafficking charges against
Northwest Field Command drug squad Det. Robert Kelly and has executed a
search warrant on the Orangeville home of Ned Maodus, a member of
Schertzer's squad. Maodus is under house arrest in Windsor after the OPP
charged him with sex assault, assault and numerous weapons offences.

In February, charges against eight officers were stayed by prosecutors,
citing "an ongoing criminal investigation."

Among other civil suits cited by Sapiano in the application is a Chinatown
restaurateur's claim that cash and seven bottles of cognac were stolen from
his restaurant, along with $500,000 in coins, gems and precious metals from
a safety deposit box.

All the allegations are denied in a statement of defence.

JAIL TERM ENDED

In the application, Sapiano also notes the "unprecedented legal procedure"
that freed Simon Yeung from prison 18 months into a 45-month term when a
prosecutor said he "should not have been convicted." Yeung alleges in a
lawsuit that Schertzer and Det. Steve Correia acted in "a high-handed,
arbitrary and malicious manner."

Sapiano claims in the application the theft allegations are different from
"all other crime" because they were facilitated by a court order.

"The number of search warrant executions ... suggests an ongoing practise
of 'theft by search warrant,' " he argues.