EX-COP HELD ON DRUG RAP

Heroin, coke seized in coffee shop near school

Toronto area cops expressed disgust yesterday after a former Toronto Police
constable was charged with selling heroin and cocaine in a school district.

Since hearing of the charges against the ex-cop and his commonlaw wife at
their Vaughan coffee shop, "I've had a number of calls" from colleagues,
including Chief David Boothby, Supt. Ron Taverner said.

He wouldn't repeat his boss' comments, but said, "It would be fair to say
all officers of all ranks feel really saddened that a former police officer
for such a long time would (allegedly) get involved with such issues."

After receiving community complaints about drug trafficking, Toronto Police
on Thursday raided a Coffee Time on Steeles Ave. W., east of Bathurst St.,
in a joint operation with York Regional Police and the Ontario illegal
gaming enforcement unit.

Investigators said they arrested the owners and four visitors, seized
heroin, cocaine and marijuana with an estimated value of $14,000, plus
$25,000 in Canadian currency, $4,000 U.S. in greenbacks, jewelry worth
$10,000, and three video game machines.

Taverner called the investigation "a quick one," because of the risk to
students at nearby schools, who frequent the coffee shop.

Since several young people were using the gaming machines when police
arrived, investigators are worried some teenagers may have also bought
drugs.

"We're quite happy this has been stopped," Newtonbrook Secondary School
vice-principal William Macdonald said yesterday. No parents or students have
sought help since school officials learned of the arrests, "but we'll be
monitoring students next week."

York Region Insp. Ivar Vittans said the ex-cop was arrested recently on
non-drug charges, but would not elaborate, saying the case is before the
courts.

The accused ex-cop was remembered by former colleagues as a one-time
employee of Ponderosa Restaurants, who joined the force in 13 Division
during a major 1970s campaign to have two officers in each cruiser.

After being transferred to 14 Division, he shot dead a drifter who
confronted him with a replica handgun.

"When he walked over to the guy and saw it was a fake gun, he dropped his
weapon and sat down on the sidewalk and cried," a former colleague told The
Saturday Sun.

The death on Ossington Ave. in April 1977 of Alexander Misztal, 51, who was
known to police as an unemployed, tough, mouthy drunk with a love for guns,
sparked a major campaign to ban realistic-looking toy handguns.

The ex-cop ended his career as a 31 Division constable in North York, after
taking early retirement in 1996.

Abraham Bailey, 49, who used the name Chris and was known as "Ace," is
charged with trafficking in heroin, cocaine, possessing drugs to traffic,
having crime proceeds and keeping a common gaming house.

Bailey appeared in a Newmarket court yesterday. He was escorted in wearing
handcuffs and was remanded to custody until a bail hearing Monday.

Conchita Garcia is charged with keeping a common gaming house, keeping
machines for gambling, controlling money tied to gambling and possessing a
controlled substance. She appears in Newmarket court March 11.
- -- With files from Alan Findlay