Ottawa police accused of stealing cash in raid

OTTAWA — Ottawa police are accused of stealing just more than $5,000 during a 2018 search at a family home in the east end.

The theft allegation is revealed in a sworn affidavit by the homeowner who was not the target of the June 8, 2018 guns-and-drugs raid.

The Ottawa police tossed the home and seized a small amount of cocaine and one registered firearm that was legally stored.

The firearm was registered to the target of the raid, the homeowner’s brother, who was charged with drug trafficking after officers seized four grams of cocaine.

It went to trial in March, and after Ottawa police testimony, the Crown agreed to the lesser charge of simple possession in exchange for a guilty plea. Defence lawyer Michael Johnston won his client a conditional discharge.

It was in preparation for trial that the accused’s brother went to a separate lawyer to document a sworn account of his missing money, some $5,200 that he kept in two drawers.

In a statement, Ottawa police said no money was seized during the raid, which occurred after police obtained a warrant to search the home.

“Any items seized under the authority of a warrant require the filing of a return to the issuing justice/judge. A detailed search of the residence did not locate any currency. Had any currency been located or seized, it would have been included in the return to justice,” said Supt. Chris Renwick

The homeowner wasn’t home during the raid and when he returned after work, his money was gone, according to his sworn affidavit.

In the March 6 affidavit, he says when he returned home, his mother told him the police had busted down the door and his brother had been arrested.

“Our door was visibly unhinged. I saw that our entire house was turned upside down. The police had entered every room in the house and emptied all the drawers and closets,” he affirmed in the signed affidavit.