POT PROPONENT CRITICAL OF POLICE ACTION

The new sign is up like a challenge from a Bradner man intent on making his
pro-marijuana opinions known.

Tim Felger, Abbotsford's notorious marijuana activist, has often run afoul
of police and politicians through his public displays of marijuana smoking
and a billboard sign on his property that said, "Legalize Marijuana Now!"
with a phone number.

But Jan. 3 Abbotsford police called out their Emergency Response Team and
surrounded the home in the 4500 block of Bradner Road to serve what they
termed a "high-risk warrant."

Officers tore down Felger's sign and took six people into custody.

Police raided the home around 4 p.m. Jan. 3 with a search warrant as they
looked for a marijuana growing operation and firearms.

They found part of what they were looking for - a 2,982-plant marijuana
growing operation.

Police estimates put the operation's annual annual harvest value at around
$5 million to $7 million.

But the reason for the ERT's involvement was because of the widely
publicized belief firearms were on the premises.

"The concern was that there was long-barrelled weapons on the property,"
Abbotsford police Const. Kirk said at the time.

But a week later Felger had a new, more-pointed, sign erected and still had
not been charged in connection with the raid.

"This was my long-barrelled weapon," Felger said, proudly thrusting his
shovel forward.

"They had 22 people at the place arresting me," he said.

Abbotsford police, however, say they confiscated bullets on the property.

Still, late last week, Felger was angry with how he'd been treated.

"They laughed and pointed their fingers and said 'We took your sign down.' "

Felger continued, "They had no right to take that sign down."

He also complained that police took his tractor, claiming he had been using
it to grow marijuana in the barn. But Felger maintained that the tractor
and other agricultural equipment was for a tree farm on his property.

Felger smiled, though, as he pointed to his new sign that urges
Langley-Abbotsford MP Randy White and Abbotsford Mayor George Ferguson to
legalize marijuana "before the Abbotsford police shoot an innocent."

While six people were taken into custody in the raid, all were released on
a promise to appear in court.

So far no charges have been laid in the incident.

But, Kirk said, "Charges were recommended against people who were arrested
that day" without being specific.

"That means Crown (counsel) has not approved the charges," he said.