RCMP Watch

PAUL TURENNE, Winnipeg Sun

An Alberta man busted in 2004 for his alleged role in a Manitoba-based ephedrine-smuggling ring is suing the City of Winnipeg, police Chief Jack Ewatski, Manitoba RCMP spokesman Sgt. Steve Colwell, the Attorney-General of Canada, and nine other police officers for allegedly defaming and permanently injuring him.

Aubrey Norbert Bruneau — a 46-year-old mechanic from Hanna, Alta. — was arrested Sept. 15, 2004, along with 17 other people as part of Operation Diversion. The operation targeted a network of people accused of smuggling ephedrine into underground labs in Vancouver, California and New York, where RCMP say it was being used to make crystal meth.

More than 20,000 pounds of ephedrine and $3.5 million in cash were seized in that raid, which also saw Bruneau’s brother Rodger — who has since died of a heart condition — and his nephew charged.

Bruneau’s lawsuit, filed April 24, accuses Winnipeg police and RCMP members of permanently damaging his shoulder and arm during his arrest. He also accuses Mounties of slandering him by making misleading claims in press releases following the arrests.

The suit states that on Sept. 15, 2004, Bruneau was sitting in his truck outside a Regent Avenue hotel on his way to Kansas City when eight unidentified cops — four Mounties and four Winnipeg city cops — came running at him with their guns drawn yelling for him to get down.

EXCESSIVE FORCE

Bruneau claims he didn’t resist arrest, yet was met with excessive force.

“John Doe 1 viciously twisted his left arm behind his back, causing severe and permanent damage to the plaintiff’s shoulder,” states the suit.

“The said assault was wanton, malicious, wilful and was unprovoked by the plaintiff and totally unnecessary.”

Following the bust, an RCMP press release stated Bruneau was charged with two counts of conspiracy to produce methamphetamine, conspiracy to export ephedrine and exporting ephedrine.

The latter two charges were stayed in January, but he still faces the first two, with his next court date scheduled for September.

Bruneau claims the press release has ruined his reputation.

Winnipeg police declined to comment on the suit, while the federal Department of Justice said it has not yet filed a statement of defence.