Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Mar 25/02) - He may be getting his money back, but Roy Epp wants a Jasper, Alta., police officer reprimanded over how he was treated.

On Feb. 16, Epp was driving his 1980 Cadillac through Jasper on his way to B.C.'s lower mainland, where he says he planned to buy another vehicle. He was pulled over by the RCMP for speeding, to which he admits he was guilty.

The RCMP officer, Const. Chan Dara, reportedly found two small roaches in the Cadillac's ashtray. Dara, a three-year member of the police force, subsequently confiscated Epp's $7,500 in cash, which was kept in a box within a bag. He also seized a cellular phone belonging to Epp's friend.

Although Epp has a drug charge on his record from five years ago, he said most of that money had come from EI cheques and the rest was income from selling fish, not from crime.

"Because I've had a drug charge I guess it's illegal for me to have money?" he asked rhetorically. "I think the public should know that if you're caught with money you have to prove where it came from, at least in Alberta."

Cpl. Dave Osborne, Dara's supervisor with the Jasper RCMP, said the search was warranted because the two roaches (cannabis products) in the ashtray are illegal, though not an offence because they were under 30 grams.

The way the money was packaged and the fact that Epp has a prior drug-trafficking charge led to suspicion, Osborne said.

Epp, who also has a mobile mechanical business, said he doesn't have a bank account, which is why he had the cash with him. He has several cheque stubs verifying that he received several EI cheques on the same day. He had been disqualified from EI but appealed and won the case, he explained. He didn't have the cheque stubs with him on Feb. 16, however.

Osborne said the RCMP's investigation seems to confirm Epp's contention.

"From what I understand, we verified the source of the income and he'll be getting his money back," he said, adding that the RCMP have 90 days from the time of seizure to lay charges or return property. "He was allowed to proceed on his way. We told him when we verify the source of the income, you'll get your money back ... If you're doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about."

Osborne said his detachment has seized close to $100,000 in proceeds of crime investigations from the highway, a frequent drug corridor, over the past six months.

Epp is angry over what he feels was an unjustifiable seizure of his money and the consequent inconvenience. He has filed a complaint with the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP.

"I had to borrow money to get home from there (Jasper)," he said. "I want my money back."