RAID COMES UP EMPTY

RCMP officers found "nothing" at a Poplar Ridge residence last Tuesday
during an early-evening raid that startled a family from their beds.

"Me and my wife Jackie were in bed around 9 p.m. when we heard a noise
that sounded like somebody broke into the house," says Shaun Drover.
"A bunch of officers came in with guns and presented her (Jackie) with
the warrant."

Jackie and Shaun were handcuffed, put into custody, and brought into
the Drayton Valley RCMP detachment. The couple's two children,
four-year-old Makaila and two-year-old Haley, were allowed to stay
with their mother while detained at the detachment.

Meanwhile, the search taking place back in Poplar Ridge turned up no
evidence further to the investigation. The Drovers were released
sometime around midnight after about two hours in custody.

Const. Stephen Browne says the investigation, which continues, is
focused on the trailer residence in particular and not the couple who
were brought into custody.

"Our investigation is extremely strong or we wouldn't have executed
the warrant, or even been able to obtain the warrant," said Browne.

After talking with police during the incident, Drover believes the
narcotics-related investigation involves individuals who have been
seen around the residence during the day when it sits empty.

"We used to leave our door left open all the time," says Drover. "I
come from Newfoundland and it's a common habit there. But we won't be
any more, not after this."

Drover, who drives a grader, also says those individuals in question
have been told to stay away from the residence, and his family.

He has even considered obtaining a peace bond to keep them away from
the property.

"One minute I'm working like a bugger to feed my family, the next
minute I have police in my house with guns out," says Drover. "I can't
have this happen to my children again."

The Drovers haven't spent a night at home since, staying at a local
hotel Tuesday night and with his parents in Edmonton for a few nights
afterward. Drover has few complaints about the RCMP's conduct Tuesday
night, but does want a more detailed explanation of how that situation
came about.

"We want our name cleared and want people to know we did nothing,"
says Drover.