CROWN STAYS MORE DRUG CHARGES

Cases Had Been Investigated By Mountie Accused Of Drug Dealing

The federal Crown has stayed charges against four more people who were
busted by an RCMP officer accused of dealing drugs himself.

Believing chances were slim of getting a conviction based on evidence
obtained by the Mountie, Crown attorney Tim McLauglin announced the stays
in Halifax provincial court Thursday.

The Crown's decision comes after Const. Joseph Daniel (Danny) Ryan, 31, a
former member of the Tantallon RCMP street team, was arrested by fellow
officers in downtown Halifax on Jan. 23.

Const. Ryan is charged with trafficking marijuana and has been suspended
with pay.

He is free on bail and living in Aylmer, Que., where he must report to RCMP
in Ottawa.

Const. Ryan will be back in Halifax provincial court on May 31 for election
and plea.

He had been set to appear June 4, but the date was moved ahead because the
Crown attorney wasn't available on that date.

Const. Ryan's arrest forced the Crown to launch an immediate review of
other drug cases the officer had investigated.

Earlier this month, charges were stayed against six people the disgraced
officer had charged with drug offences in two other cases.

The stay means the Crown has a year to revive the charges.

"But that remedy is very rarely used," Mr. McLaughlin said outside the
courtroom.

"So usually when a matter is stayed, it is stayed forever."

After reviewing about 25 files involving 34 defendants, Mr. McLaughlin said
he anticipates charges being stayed against 15 individuals involved in
about 10 of those cases.

"The balance of the files, we have evidence that we believe we can proceed
with the reasonable prospect of conviction," he said.

"That's not to say that upon further review of files, or if additional
information comes to our attention, we won't revisit the issue and stays
may be issued at that point in time."

A lawyer representing one of those charged said the stay actually stops
court proceedings against his client in mid-stream.

"It obviously sets off a lot of alarms in relation to his creditability,"
Warren Zimmer said, referring to Const. Ryan.

Charges were stayed against Derick Richard Ryan, 25, of Timberlea, accused
of possessing less than three kilograms of marijuana for the purpose of
trafficking in June 2001.

The Crown also stayed the charges against Jerry Scott Hubley, 26, of
Seabright, who was accused of illegally producing marijuana and possessing
less than three kilograms of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking in
June 2001.

Charges were also stayed against Phillip Murray Munroe, 51, and Judith
Annette Munroe, 52, of Tantallon.

Mr. Munroe, a former RCMP officer and suspended jail guard, and his wife
were charged with illegally producing marijuana, possessing less than three
kilograms of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, possessing less than
one gram of cannabis resin and stealing electricity from Nova Scotia Power
Corporation not exceeding $5,000.

The offences are alleged to have occurred in October 2001.