Drug buy from alleged stalking target was contemplated, ex-officer tells court

Former Calgary police drug detective Steve Walton said he discussed the possibility of attempting a drug purchase from the woman he and others are accused of stalking.

But Walton on Friday denied suggestions from a Crown witness that the plan included framing Akele Taylor by planting drugs on her or her property.

Walton, the final witness in a three-week Court of Queen’s Bench jury trial, denied testimony from a fired Calgary Police Service member that he kept narcotics at his home. Walton, who for years was a drug expert for the CPS, said he kept a “placebo” kit of phoney narcotics, but didn’t possess any actual illicit drugs.

“There was never any discussion of planting drugs,” Walton told defence lawyer Alain Hepner.

“I don’t know where you’d get them; you’d have to purchase them,” he said.

Walton, his wife Heather and wealthy Calgary businessman Ken Carter are each charged with criminal harassment for allegedly stalking Taylor in 2012 and 2013.

The Waltons also face charges of bribery and improper storage of a firearm.

The incidents occurred while Carter and Taylor were embroiled in a child custody battle over their daughter.

Walton testified he was hired to ensure the girl’s safety and to gather information which might be used by Carter in the legal battle.

“There was a time when we had discussed perhaps purchasing drugs from her,” Walton said. “If we could establish she was a drug distributor … that might not bode very well in a custody proceeding.”

Walton was the only defence witness called in the case, with Carter’s lawyer, Gavin Wolch, and Heather Walton’s counsel, Kelsey Sitar, indicating they wouldn’t be calling evidence.

Jurors will hear final arguments in the case on Monday.