Surveillance was for safety of client and his daughter, ex-officer says

Retired Calgary police detective Steve Walton said Tuesday that surveillance on a client’s former girlfriend was intended mostly to protect the child the couple shared.

Walton said he was hired by wealthy city businessman Ken Carter to gather information on Akele Taylor and ensure his and his daughter’s security.

Walton said Carter was embroiled in a custody battle over the then-13-month-old daughter he and Taylor shared.

“Her well-being, that was No. 1,” Walton said, of the safety of the child being the main reason Taylor was being watched.

“If there was anything untoward going on toward Mr. Carter or his daughter,” Walton told defence lawyer Alain Hepner.

“He expressly informed us we were going to be held responsible for the safety of himself, his daughter, his two sons, his sister and his nanny,” Walton said.

Walton, 61, his wife, Heather, and Carter each face a charge of criminal harassment in connection with ongoing surveillance of Taylor in 2012 and 2013.

He and his wife also face bribery charges for allegedly paying active members of the Calgary Police Service for computer database information.

Walton detailed the ongoing work done by himself and the officers he hired to look into Taylor’s conduct.

He said Carter contacted him in mid-August 2012 to assist in his ongoing dispute with Taylor.

His first experience with her was when he saw her at a gas station accosting one of Carter’s friends, Ken Thompson.

He said Taylor, whom he was only able to identify subsequently, was “in Mr. Thompson’s face, she was yelling at him.”

“At one point she slapped him in the face,” Walton said.

He said his wife approached Thompson and discretely indicated they were working for Carter and got him to leave.

Taylor followed, but Walton told jurors he was able to contact Thompson by phone and get him to take evasive action to lose her.

He also said he took part in court-ordered exchanges of Carter’s daughter with Taylor at her apartment.

Walton denied ever being intimidating during the times he picked up or dropped off the girl.

The accused also denied paying police officers Bryan Morton and Bradford McNish cash for police databank information.

Walton said he has many police connections and could get that information for free.

He also said cheques paid to the two officers were for other security work.

“If that’s what I was up to I wouldn’t be paying by cheque, I wouldn’t create a paper trail,” Walton said of suggestions he paid the officers for police information.

The trial is adjourned until Thursday when Walton will be cross-examined.