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Your community newspaper • Founded in 1891 • www.theprogress.com • Friday, December 10, 2010
Grow-op found at site of home invasion
■ F IELD T RIP
Senior shot, stabbed Robert Freeman The Progress A small marijuana-grow may be the reason behind the home invasion on Fifth Avenue in Chilliwack this week that left a 72-year-old man with gun and knife wounds. But police say it’s not proof conclusive that marijuana was the motive behind the attack. RCMP Cpl.Lea-Anne Dunlop confirmed a “small grow-op” was “cleverly concealed” in the house, but police are not releasing details of how the marijuana was hidden or the discovery made. “Obviously, we were in the house since 6 p.m. (Tuesday), but it wasn’t found until late (Wednesday),” she said, during a “methodical search of the property.” “It takes days sometimes to complete that (search),” she said. At this stage of the investigation, police see the marijuana-grow as just another possible motive for the home invasion, which they believe was not a random act. The senior was last reported in stable condition in hospital. Police are asking for public help in solving the crime. Police were called to the home in the 46000-block 5th Avenue at about 6 p.m. Tuesday. Police said a man had knocked on the senior’s door, pulled out a gun, and a struggle began, during which the victim was shot and stabbed. Few details of the attack are being released, including a description of the suspect and the extent of the victim’s wounds, in hopes of generating fresh information from public tips. Anyone with information about the incident or the suspect is asked to call the Chilliwack RCMP at 604-792-4611 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Anonymous tips can be made online at www.chilliwackcrimestoppers.ca
Sanborn court date not until 2012 Lead time necessary to find four-week block of court time, says justice official Robert Freeman The Progress The breach of trust case against former city employee Grant Sanborn goes to trial before a provincial court judge in February – of 2012. A spokesman for the criminal justice branch said the trial is not set until then because a “significant amount of court time” was required.
Four weeks have been set aside for the trial, now scheduled to start on Feb.6, 2012. But the spokesman would not discuss other possible reasons for needing such a large block of court time - such as the number of witnesses the Crown might call - because those details are in the hands of special prosecutor Robin McFee. Sanborn was charged with three counts of breach of trust
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rfreeman@theprogress.com
Thousands of middle school students got free tickets to Tuesday’s Chilliwack Bruins game at Prospera Centre. The special game, which was held at 10:30 a.m., drew approximately 3,100 teens. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Harry Mertin
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by a public officer in June, 2010 after McFee completed a three-year investigation into allegations of improper landuse decisions in Chilliwack. The special prosecutor was appointed because the allegations included a politician, Chilliwack MLA John Les, who was then the province’s Solicitor General. Les stepped down as Solicitor General when he learned of the investigation,
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but McFee found no evidence Les made improper land deals during his tenure as Chilliwack mayor from 1987 to 1999. However, McFee said he did find evidence to allege three counts of breach of trust against Sanborn. Sanborn had resigned as the city’s planning director in June, 2000 to become a private sector development consultant. rfreeman@theprogress.com
2010
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