Three OPP officers have been charged following an 18-month investigation by Ontario Provincial Police.
The investigation into the potential criminal activity of officers started in May of 2014 after the force received tips from a variety of sources, including OPP officers. A total of seven search warrants were executed on November 12th, a majority on County Road 5 in Mallorytown.
At an afternoon press conference at the OPP detachment in Prescott, ON, Chief Superindendent Daniel Redmond told reporters he has full confidence in his officers.
"It was the commitment of dedicated members of the local detachment, the OPP's organized crime enforcement bureau, and the OPP's professional standards bureau that led to the arrests," Redmond said.
The three officers all worked in the Leeds County detachment and have a combined total of more than 35 years in the force.
"We take this seriously. We will not stand for this within our ranks," Redmond said.
Provincial Constable Jason Redmond, 36 of Lynn is charged with: Obstruction of Justice, Trafficking a Schedule II Substance – Marihuana (3 Counts), Forgery, Breach of Trust
Provincial Constable David Vogelzang, 41 of Elizabethtown is charged with: Obstruction of Justice
And Provincial Constable George Duke, arrested several days earlier on October 31, 2015, is charged with: Theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, breach of trust, possession of marijuana and several other charges.
All three of the officers have been suspended with pay until the charges are tested in court.
7 other people were charged as a result of the investigation.
http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/project-arrowt ... -1.2662694
Two Leeds County OPP officers charged after 18-month drug trafficking
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Project Arrowtown led to arrest of 10 individuals
Michael Jack, Administrator
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Michael Jack
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OPP commander wants trust back
PRESCOTT – The public can trust the Ontario Provincial Police to do its job when its officers are accused of wrongdoing, the OPP’s regional commander said Tuesday.
Chief Superintendent Daniel Redmond, the OPP’s East Region commander, said local OPP officers were among the people who provided information leading to the recent arrest of three of their colleagues on a series of criminal charges.
“As a leader in the OPP, I’m proud to say that the vast majority of our members are doing exemplary work and deserve the community ’s trust,” Redmond told media at a press conference held in the force’s Prescott detachment.
“Any violation of this trust brings discredit to the reputation of the entire OPP.”
The rare top-brass press conference was an attempt to restore trust in the OPP in the wake of the arrest last Thursday of two Leeds County OPP officers.
Consts. David Vogelzang, a 16year member of the OPP, and Jason Redmond, a 10-year member, were arrested as part of Project Arrowtown, an initiative launched in May 2014 that also resulted in the arrest.
Any violation of ... trust brings discredit to the reputation of the entire OPP.”
Daniel Redmond in late October of another Leeds OPP veteran, Const. George Duke, a 20-year member of the OPP.
Duke, 52, has been charged with theft over $5,000; possession of property obtained by crime, over $5,000; breach of trust; unlawful possession of a restricted firearm; unsafe storage of a firearm; unsafe storage of ammunition; possession of a firearm without a licence; and possession of an illegal drug.
Vogelzang, 41, has been charged with obstruction of justice, while Redmond, 36, who is not related to the superintendent, also faces an obstruction of justice charge, as well as three counts of trafficking in marijuana, one count of forgery and one count of breach of trust.
The Project Arrowtown sweep, which involved the RCMP and Montreal police, also resulted in the arrest of seven civilians, while a warrant was outstanding for one other man.
The recent arrests of three Leeds County Ontario Provincial Police officers have no bearing on Brockville’s eventual consideration of an OPP service contract, city councillors said Tuesday.
“I think it’s a reach,” said mayor David Henderson, referring to a question about whether the arrests have changed councillors’ perceptions about the looming OPP discussion.
“It hasn’t changed mine,” added councillor Tom Blanchard.
The comments came as Chief Superintendent Daniel Redmond, the OPP’s East Region commander, held a press conference in Prescott on Tuesday in an attempt to bolster public trust in the provincial force in the wake of the arrests of three of its locally-based officers.
Three officers with the Leeds detachment have been arrested in recent weeks and face criminal charges as a result of a joint police forces initiative called Project Arrowtown.
City hall is awaiting the resumption of a cost-analysis of a possible Ontario Provincial Police takeover of the city force.
That costing, a process that began late in 2012 with a debate at city council, remains in limbo due to a provincial moratorium on such costings.
Henderson said he has been told informally that the moratorium may be lifted this month or next.
The mayor dismissed any notion that “bad apples” at an individual police force would affect Brockville’s discussion.
“The discussion about what goes on at different police services has not altered our discussion in the city,” said Henderson.
“All police services have had various issues over time.”
Councillor Leigh Bursey stressed the three accused Leeds officers are innocent until proven guilty.
Redmond on Tuesday could not address the costing issue, as it does not fall under his purview.
But the superintendent rejected any suggestion the recent arrests have shaken the public’s confidence in the OPP.
“I don’t think there’s a lack of confidence in our organization,” he said.
“We’ve been here since 1909 and I feel the public trusts us across Ontario,” said Redmond.
http://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-r ... brockville
Chief Superintendent Daniel Redmond, the OPP’s East Region commander, said local OPP officers were among the people who provided information leading to the recent arrest of three of their colleagues on a series of criminal charges.
“As a leader in the OPP, I’m proud to say that the vast majority of our members are doing exemplary work and deserve the community ’s trust,” Redmond told media at a press conference held in the force’s Prescott detachment.
“Any violation of this trust brings discredit to the reputation of the entire OPP.”
The rare top-brass press conference was an attempt to restore trust in the OPP in the wake of the arrest last Thursday of two Leeds County OPP officers.
Consts. David Vogelzang, a 16year member of the OPP, and Jason Redmond, a 10-year member, were arrested as part of Project Arrowtown, an initiative launched in May 2014 that also resulted in the arrest.
Any violation of ... trust brings discredit to the reputation of the entire OPP.”
Daniel Redmond in late October of another Leeds OPP veteran, Const. George Duke, a 20-year member of the OPP.
Duke, 52, has been charged with theft over $5,000; possession of property obtained by crime, over $5,000; breach of trust; unlawful possession of a restricted firearm; unsafe storage of a firearm; unsafe storage of ammunition; possession of a firearm without a licence; and possession of an illegal drug.
Vogelzang, 41, has been charged with obstruction of justice, while Redmond, 36, who is not related to the superintendent, also faces an obstruction of justice charge, as well as three counts of trafficking in marijuana, one count of forgery and one count of breach of trust.
The Project Arrowtown sweep, which involved the RCMP and Montreal police, also resulted in the arrest of seven civilians, while a warrant was outstanding for one other man.
The recent arrests of three Leeds County Ontario Provincial Police officers have no bearing on Brockville’s eventual consideration of an OPP service contract, city councillors said Tuesday.
“I think it’s a reach,” said mayor David Henderson, referring to a question about whether the arrests have changed councillors’ perceptions about the looming OPP discussion.
“It hasn’t changed mine,” added councillor Tom Blanchard.
The comments came as Chief Superintendent Daniel Redmond, the OPP’s East Region commander, held a press conference in Prescott on Tuesday in an attempt to bolster public trust in the provincial force in the wake of the arrests of three of its locally-based officers.
Three officers with the Leeds detachment have been arrested in recent weeks and face criminal charges as a result of a joint police forces initiative called Project Arrowtown.
City hall is awaiting the resumption of a cost-analysis of a possible Ontario Provincial Police takeover of the city force.
That costing, a process that began late in 2012 with a debate at city council, remains in limbo due to a provincial moratorium on such costings.
Henderson said he has been told informally that the moratorium may be lifted this month or next.
The mayor dismissed any notion that “bad apples” at an individual police force would affect Brockville’s discussion.
“The discussion about what goes on at different police services has not altered our discussion in the city,” said Henderson.
“All police services have had various issues over time.”
Councillor Leigh Bursey stressed the three accused Leeds officers are innocent until proven guilty.
Redmond on Tuesday could not address the costing issue, as it does not fall under his purview.
But the superintendent rejected any suggestion the recent arrests have shaken the public’s confidence in the OPP.
“I don’t think there’s a lack of confidence in our organization,” he said.
“We’ve been here since 1909 and I feel the public trusts us across Ontario,” said Redmond.
http://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-r ... brockville
Michael Jack, Administrator
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Michael Jack
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OPP brass says officers aided internal cop probe
PRESCOTT – The public can trust the Ontario Provincial Police to do its job when its officers are accused of wrongdoing, the OPP’s regional commander said Tuesday.
Chief Superintendent Daniel Redmond, the OPP’s East Region commander, said local OPP officers were among the people who provided information leading to the recent arrest of three of their colleagues on a series of criminal charges.
“As a leader in the OPP, I’m proud to say that the vast majority of our members are doing exemplary work and deserve the community ’s trust,” Redmond told media at a press conference held in the force’s Prescott detachment.
“Any violation of this trust brings discredit to the reputation of the entire OPP.”
The rare top-brass press conference was an attempt to restore trust in the OPP in the wake of the arrest last Thursday of two Leeds County OPP officers.
Consts. David Vogelzang, a 16year member of the OPP, and Jason Redmond, a 10-year member, were arrested as part of Project Arrowtown, an initiative launched in May 2014 that also resulted in the arrest.
Any violation of ... trust brings discredit to the reputation of the entire OPP.”
Daniel Redmond in late October of another Leeds OPP veteran, Const. George Duke, a 20-year member of the OPP.
Duke, 52, has been charged with theft over $5,000; possession of property obtained by crime, over $5,000; breach of trust; unlawful possession of a restricted firearm; unsafe storage of a firearm; unsafe storage of ammunition; possession of a firearm without a licence; and possession of an illegal drug.
Vogelzang, 41, has been charged with obstruction of justice, while Redmond, 36, who is not related to the superintendent, also faces an obstruction of justice charge, as well as three counts of trafficking in marijuana, one count of forgery and one count of breach of trust.
The Project Arrowtown sweep, which involved the RCMP and Montreal police, also resulted in the arrest of seven civilians, while a warrant was outstanding for one other man.
The recent arrests of three Leeds County Ontario Provincial Police officers have no bearing on Brockville’s eventual consideration of an OPP service contract, city councillors said Tuesday.
“I think it’s a reach,” said mayor David Henderson, referring to a question about whether the arrests have changed councillors’ perceptions about the looming OPP discussion.
“It hasn’t changed mine,” added councillor Tom Blanchard.
The comments came as Chief Superintendent Daniel Redmond, the OPP’s East Region commander, held a press conference in Prescott on Tuesday in an attempt to bolster public trust in the provincial force in the wake of the arrests of three of its locally-based officers.
Three officers with the Leeds detachment have been arrested in recent weeks and face criminal charges as a result of a joint police forces initiative called Project Arrowtown.
City hall is awaiting the resumption of a cost-analysis of a possible Ontario Provincial Police takeover of the city force.
That costing, a process that began late in 2012 with a debate at city council, remains in limbo due to a provincial moratorium on such costings.
Henderson said he has been told informally that the moratorium may be lifted this month or next.
The mayor dismissed any notion that “bad apples” at an individual police force would affect Brockville’s discussion.
“The discussion about what goes on at different police services has not altered our discussion in the city,” said Henderson.
“All police services have had various issues over time.”
Councillor Leigh Bursey stressed the three accused Leeds officers are innocent until proven guilty.
Redmond on Tuesday could not address the costing issue, as it does not fall under his purview.
But the superintendent rejected any suggestion the recent arrests have shaken the public’s confidence in the OPP.
“I don’t think there’s a lack of confidence in our organization,” he said.
“We’ve been here since 1909 and I feel the public trusts us across Ontario,” said Redmond.
http://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-r ... brockville
Chief Superintendent Daniel Redmond, the OPP’s East Region commander, said local OPP officers were among the people who provided information leading to the recent arrest of three of their colleagues on a series of criminal charges.
“As a leader in the OPP, I’m proud to say that the vast majority of our members are doing exemplary work and deserve the community ’s trust,” Redmond told media at a press conference held in the force’s Prescott detachment.
“Any violation of this trust brings discredit to the reputation of the entire OPP.”
The rare top-brass press conference was an attempt to restore trust in the OPP in the wake of the arrest last Thursday of two Leeds County OPP officers.
Consts. David Vogelzang, a 16year member of the OPP, and Jason Redmond, a 10-year member, were arrested as part of Project Arrowtown, an initiative launched in May 2014 that also resulted in the arrest.
Any violation of ... trust brings discredit to the reputation of the entire OPP.”
Daniel Redmond in late October of another Leeds OPP veteran, Const. George Duke, a 20-year member of the OPP.
Duke, 52, has been charged with theft over $5,000; possession of property obtained by crime, over $5,000; breach of trust; unlawful possession of a restricted firearm; unsafe storage of a firearm; unsafe storage of ammunition; possession of a firearm without a licence; and possession of an illegal drug.
Vogelzang, 41, has been charged with obstruction of justice, while Redmond, 36, who is not related to the superintendent, also faces an obstruction of justice charge, as well as three counts of trafficking in marijuana, one count of forgery and one count of breach of trust.
The Project Arrowtown sweep, which involved the RCMP and Montreal police, also resulted in the arrest of seven civilians, while a warrant was outstanding for one other man.
The recent arrests of three Leeds County Ontario Provincial Police officers have no bearing on Brockville’s eventual consideration of an OPP service contract, city councillors said Tuesday.
“I think it’s a reach,” said mayor David Henderson, referring to a question about whether the arrests have changed councillors’ perceptions about the looming OPP discussion.
“It hasn’t changed mine,” added councillor Tom Blanchard.
The comments came as Chief Superintendent Daniel Redmond, the OPP’s East Region commander, held a press conference in Prescott on Tuesday in an attempt to bolster public trust in the provincial force in the wake of the arrests of three of its locally-based officers.
Three officers with the Leeds detachment have been arrested in recent weeks and face criminal charges as a result of a joint police forces initiative called Project Arrowtown.
City hall is awaiting the resumption of a cost-analysis of a possible Ontario Provincial Police takeover of the city force.
That costing, a process that began late in 2012 with a debate at city council, remains in limbo due to a provincial moratorium on such costings.
Henderson said he has been told informally that the moratorium may be lifted this month or next.
The mayor dismissed any notion that “bad apples” at an individual police force would affect Brockville’s discussion.
“The discussion about what goes on at different police services has not altered our discussion in the city,” said Henderson.
“All police services have had various issues over time.”
Councillor Leigh Bursey stressed the three accused Leeds officers are innocent until proven guilty.
Redmond on Tuesday could not address the costing issue, as it does not fall under his purview.
But the superintendent rejected any suggestion the recent arrests have shaken the public’s confidence in the OPP.
“I don’t think there’s a lack of confidence in our organization,” he said.
“We’ve been here since 1909 and I feel the public trusts us across Ontario,” said Redmond.
http://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-r ... brockville
Michael Jack, Administrator
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Michael Jack
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Leeds County OPP officer guilty in drug, forgery case
OPP officer guilty in drug, forgery case
An officer with the Ontario Provincial Police’s Leeds County detachment was found guilty, earlier this year, of drug trafficking and forgery.
Jason Redmond pleaded guilty to trafficking in marijuana, while a judge also found him guilty of dealing in a forged document. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 29.
The charges stemmed from Project Arrowtown, a multi-agency police operation launched in 2014 that also resulted in the arrest of two other Leeds OPP constables, George Duke and David Vogelzang.
Earlier this year, Duke pleaded guilty to a series of charges stemming from the Arrowtown sweep.
Vogelzang was charged with obstruction of justice and pleaded not guilty; the charges against him were dismissed.
Vogelzang and Redmond’s trial unfolded in April. The text of the decision, by Superior Court Justice Wolf Tausendfreund, was made public last month.
It shows both Vogelzang and Redmond were charged with obstruction of justice in connection with an undercover operation in the Brockville area.
“The only person to testify in this trial was the undercover officer whose name, for purposes of this operation was Spencer Knoll,” the decision reads.
The court heard that Knoll’s persona was “one who skated close to and at times over the legal line” and who sold clothing and alcohol at discount prices.
During a meeting at Boston Pizza on March 28, 2015, Vogelzang and Redmond told Knoll about rumours circulating in the community that he was a cop, the court heard.
The facts before the court include Redmond trying to reassure Knoll: “You don’t understand – it’s small town politics.”
Redmond later says: “Just because people think it, doesn’t make it so.”
Tausendfreund notes that the obstruction of justice charge against Redmond hinged on whether Redmond was attempting to “ferret out if indeed Knoll was a policeman.”
However, the judge concludes he has reasonable doubt as to whether the Crown had established that Redmond was, in fact, obstructing justice.
He also concludes that Vogelzang’s presence at the meeting was not “that of a participant in a plan to ferret out if Knoll was or was not an undercover police officer.”
As a result, Tausendfreund dismissed two counts of obstruction of justice against both men.
Meanwhile, his ruling also noted that by October 2015, “the undercover operation was nearing its conclusion.
“Knoll was given one further task. He was to attempt to have Redmond provide him with a forged court document for which Knoll was to pay him an unspecified sum of money. The plan included a fictitious story that would require Redmond’s assistance in the form of providing a purported court document.”
Knoll then came to Redmond with a fictitious scenario: “He told Redmond that one of his sources of income was as a courier of undeclared cash that he brought into Canada periodically from the United States. He did so for unnamed and of course fictitious people in the United States. He had enough of it and wanted out. However, he needed a reason.
“Within a few days he was to bring $30,000 in U.S. funds into Canada. The plan included his partner, Sam. If the money were to disappear, it would be sufficient to terminate any continued obligation he would have to continue as a courier of undeclared funds for the unnamed people in the U.S.”
“The story to the unnamed suppliers of the fictitious money would be that he was stopped by the border police. During the course of being questioned, the police felt that he was lying. They arrested him, searched him and found the $30,000 in U.S. funds which they confiscated. … What Knoll needed was a court document to confirm that he in fact had been so charged. That is where Redmond came in. Could he be of assistance?”
The court heard that Redmond gained access to a court document on the Internet and altered the document to suit Knoll’s request.
Redmond “declined the offer of payment on four different occasions until Knoll stuffed $500 in U.S. funds into a lunchbox belonging to Redmond’s young son.
Redmond made neither a responding comment nor did he further resist,” the judge added.
The information was enough for Tausendfreund to find Redmond guilty of knowingly dealing with a forged document. However, he found Redmond not guilty of breach of trust for dealing with the forged document while a police officer.
“Redmond found the document in question on the Internet,” the judge concluded.
“Anyone with access to the Internet could have done so. The fact that he was a peace officer, I find had no part to play in the production of the forged document. It may well be that Redmond’s experience as a peace officer assisted him in preparing this document. However, he was not at that time acting in connection with the duties of his office.”
https://www.recorder.ca/news/local-news ... rgery-case
https://www.thewhig.com/news/local-news ... ery-case-2
An officer with the Ontario Provincial Police’s Leeds County detachment was found guilty, earlier this year, of drug trafficking and forgery.
Jason Redmond pleaded guilty to trafficking in marijuana, while a judge also found him guilty of dealing in a forged document. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 29.
The charges stemmed from Project Arrowtown, a multi-agency police operation launched in 2014 that also resulted in the arrest of two other Leeds OPP constables, George Duke and David Vogelzang.
Earlier this year, Duke pleaded guilty to a series of charges stemming from the Arrowtown sweep.
Vogelzang was charged with obstruction of justice and pleaded not guilty; the charges against him were dismissed.
Vogelzang and Redmond’s trial unfolded in April. The text of the decision, by Superior Court Justice Wolf Tausendfreund, was made public last month.
It shows both Vogelzang and Redmond were charged with obstruction of justice in connection with an undercover operation in the Brockville area.
“The only person to testify in this trial was the undercover officer whose name, for purposes of this operation was Spencer Knoll,” the decision reads.
The court heard that Knoll’s persona was “one who skated close to and at times over the legal line” and who sold clothing and alcohol at discount prices.
During a meeting at Boston Pizza on March 28, 2015, Vogelzang and Redmond told Knoll about rumours circulating in the community that he was a cop, the court heard.
The facts before the court include Redmond trying to reassure Knoll: “You don’t understand – it’s small town politics.”
Redmond later says: “Just because people think it, doesn’t make it so.”
Tausendfreund notes that the obstruction of justice charge against Redmond hinged on whether Redmond was attempting to “ferret out if indeed Knoll was a policeman.”
However, the judge concludes he has reasonable doubt as to whether the Crown had established that Redmond was, in fact, obstructing justice.
He also concludes that Vogelzang’s presence at the meeting was not “that of a participant in a plan to ferret out if Knoll was or was not an undercover police officer.”
As a result, Tausendfreund dismissed two counts of obstruction of justice against both men.
Meanwhile, his ruling also noted that by October 2015, “the undercover operation was nearing its conclusion.
“Knoll was given one further task. He was to attempt to have Redmond provide him with a forged court document for which Knoll was to pay him an unspecified sum of money. The plan included a fictitious story that would require Redmond’s assistance in the form of providing a purported court document.”
Knoll then came to Redmond with a fictitious scenario: “He told Redmond that one of his sources of income was as a courier of undeclared cash that he brought into Canada periodically from the United States. He did so for unnamed and of course fictitious people in the United States. He had enough of it and wanted out. However, he needed a reason.
“Within a few days he was to bring $30,000 in U.S. funds into Canada. The plan included his partner, Sam. If the money were to disappear, it would be sufficient to terminate any continued obligation he would have to continue as a courier of undeclared funds for the unnamed people in the U.S.”
“The story to the unnamed suppliers of the fictitious money would be that he was stopped by the border police. During the course of being questioned, the police felt that he was lying. They arrested him, searched him and found the $30,000 in U.S. funds which they confiscated. … What Knoll needed was a court document to confirm that he in fact had been so charged. That is where Redmond came in. Could he be of assistance?”
The court heard that Redmond gained access to a court document on the Internet and altered the document to suit Knoll’s request.
Redmond “declined the offer of payment on four different occasions until Knoll stuffed $500 in U.S. funds into a lunchbox belonging to Redmond’s young son.
Redmond made neither a responding comment nor did he further resist,” the judge added.
The information was enough for Tausendfreund to find Redmond guilty of knowingly dealing with a forged document. However, he found Redmond not guilty of breach of trust for dealing with the forged document while a police officer.
“Redmond found the document in question on the Internet,” the judge concluded.
“Anyone with access to the Internet could have done so. The fact that he was a peace officer, I find had no part to play in the production of the forged document. It may well be that Redmond’s experience as a peace officer assisted him in preparing this document. However, he was not at that time acting in connection with the duties of his office.”
https://www.recorder.ca/news/local-news ... rgery-case
https://www.thewhig.com/news/local-news ... ery-case-2
Michael Jack, Administrator
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Michael Jack
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No jail for OPP officer in sting
Conditional discharge, suspended sentence for Cst. Jason Redmond, who was arrested in Arrowtown case.
A Leeds County Ontario Provincial Police officer, who was snared in an elaborate police sting three years ago, was given a conditional discharge for dealing marijuana and a suspended sentence for forgery in Ontario Superior Court on Monday.
Jason Redmond had pleaded guilty to the pot-trafficking count and was found guilty of the forged-document charge earlier this year.
The two charges were the only ones that stuck among multiple charges against Redmond and OPP colleague David Vogelzang resulting from an undercover operation that police dubbed Project Arrowtown.
The two charges of obstruction of justice against Vogelzang were dismissed at trial in April.
Of the remaining four charges against Redmond, the constable was found not guilty on one count, two were dismissed and another one was withdrawn. At the trial in April, Superior Court Justice Wolf Tausendfreund also found Redmond not guilty of breach of trust.
Project Arrowtown was launched in 2014 and used an undercover cop posing as a petty criminal to trap the two officers.
In October of 2015, the undercover officer used the alias of “Spencer Knoll” to persuade Redmond to give him a forged document. Knoll, posing as an illicit money courier, wanted Redmond to manufacture a document to show that the bogus courier’s money had been taken by authorities. Knoll would use the forged document to convince his crime bosses that he no longer had the money, some $30,000.
Redmond found a document on the Internet and changed it to suit Knoll, resulting in the forgery charge. Court heard that Redmond rejected Knoll’s attempts to pay him on four occasions, but later accepted $500 U.S.
Along with the marijuana charge to which Redmond pleaded guilty and was given a conditional discharge, the forged-document charge was the most serious. He got the suspended sentence and one year’s probation on that one.
The other charges didn’t survive the court process. The two counts of obstruction of justice – for trying to find out if Knoll was undercover – were withdrawn against both Redmond and Vogelzang.
One charge of trafficking drugs against Redmond was withdrawn.
An earlier charge that Redmond breached his trust as a police officer was thrown out by Justice Tausendfreund because anybody could find the document on the Internet – it didn’t take a police officer.
Redmond isn’t the only Leeds OPP officer to be convicted of crimes this year.
In September, George Duke, a veteran OPP officer, was sentenced to 21 months in jail on theft, breach of trust, drug and firearms charges.
He was also caught in the Project Arrowtown dragnet but his case was different from the Redmond sting.
Duke pleaded guilty to stealing $11,500 from undercover officers posing as drug-money couriers and possession of drugs including methamphetamine, marijuana and crack cocaine.
Some of the drugs – marijuana and crack – were discovered in his duty bag in his locker at the OPP detachment.
Duke, 55, is now serving his time in the St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre in Brockville, where he receives treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
https://www.recorder.ca/news/local-news ... r-in-sting
A Leeds County Ontario Provincial Police officer, who was snared in an elaborate police sting three years ago, was given a conditional discharge for dealing marijuana and a suspended sentence for forgery in Ontario Superior Court on Monday.
Jason Redmond had pleaded guilty to the pot-trafficking count and was found guilty of the forged-document charge earlier this year.
The two charges were the only ones that stuck among multiple charges against Redmond and OPP colleague David Vogelzang resulting from an undercover operation that police dubbed Project Arrowtown.
The two charges of obstruction of justice against Vogelzang were dismissed at trial in April.
Of the remaining four charges against Redmond, the constable was found not guilty on one count, two were dismissed and another one was withdrawn. At the trial in April, Superior Court Justice Wolf Tausendfreund also found Redmond not guilty of breach of trust.
Project Arrowtown was launched in 2014 and used an undercover cop posing as a petty criminal to trap the two officers.
In October of 2015, the undercover officer used the alias of “Spencer Knoll” to persuade Redmond to give him a forged document. Knoll, posing as an illicit money courier, wanted Redmond to manufacture a document to show that the bogus courier’s money had been taken by authorities. Knoll would use the forged document to convince his crime bosses that he no longer had the money, some $30,000.
Redmond found a document on the Internet and changed it to suit Knoll, resulting in the forgery charge. Court heard that Redmond rejected Knoll’s attempts to pay him on four occasions, but later accepted $500 U.S.
Along with the marijuana charge to which Redmond pleaded guilty and was given a conditional discharge, the forged-document charge was the most serious. He got the suspended sentence and one year’s probation on that one.
The other charges didn’t survive the court process. The two counts of obstruction of justice – for trying to find out if Knoll was undercover – were withdrawn against both Redmond and Vogelzang.
One charge of trafficking drugs against Redmond was withdrawn.
An earlier charge that Redmond breached his trust as a police officer was thrown out by Justice Tausendfreund because anybody could find the document on the Internet – it didn’t take a police officer.
Redmond isn’t the only Leeds OPP officer to be convicted of crimes this year.
In September, George Duke, a veteran OPP officer, was sentenced to 21 months in jail on theft, breach of trust, drug and firearms charges.
He was also caught in the Project Arrowtown dragnet but his case was different from the Redmond sting.
Duke pleaded guilty to stealing $11,500 from undercover officers posing as drug-money couriers and possession of drugs including methamphetamine, marijuana and crack cocaine.
Some of the drugs – marijuana and crack – were discovered in his duty bag in his locker at the OPP detachment.
Duke, 55, is now serving his time in the St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre in Brockville, where he receives treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
https://www.recorder.ca/news/local-news ... r-in-sting
Michael Jack, Administrator