Bob Mitchell (Toronto Star) – A veteran Peel Police officer today pleaded not guilty to seven criminal charges in connection with different offences, all stemming from his alleged role in taking cargo from a controlled RCMP drug investigation.
Sheldon Cook, 40, elected to be tried by judge alone in his trial before Justice Casey Hill in a Brampton courtroom.
The offences involve an attempt to possess a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property (MP3 players) from a police investigation, and breach of trust as a police officer in connection with the other offences.
The offences were allegedly committed by the 14-year Peel officer between Aug. 7, 2005 and Nov. 18, 2005.
Evidence has yet to be presented in this federally prosecuted case that began this morning.
But at the time of his arrest in November 2005, it was alleged that he had removed 15 kilos of white powder from a truck, which unbeknownst to him, was being made to look like cocaine as part of an RCMP drug sting.
Police tracked their missing cargo to a storage area in his Cambridge home where it was later determined that the cocaine was in fact a white powder substance made to look like the illegal narcotic.
It’s alleged the marijuana and MP3 players were found when a search warrant was executed at his home.
Cook remains suspended with pay until his case is dealt with through the courts.
The case is also being closely watched by Peel’s internal affairs unit.
As a result of the arrest, Justice Canada decided not to prosecute at least six drug cases where Cook was the arresting officer.
A month after he was charged, a Peel judge acquitted former Toronto Argonaut Orlando Bowen of drug and assaulting police charges that were laid by Cook and another officer.
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