Kelowna reporter might face criminal charges after exposing alleged drug operation
From: Kelowna reporter might face criminal charges after exposing alleged drug operation
From: Kelowna reporter might face criminal charges after exposing alleged drug operation
A Kelowna reporter is furious that he may face criminal charges after he
exposed an alleged drug operation by going undercover and videotaping
himself purchasing marijuana.
Kelly Hayes of Castanet Media, a Kelowna-based news website, bought the
drugs after being contacted in mid-July by Anna Stein, who believed her
upstairs neighbour was selling drugs illegally.
Stein, 64, told The Vancouver Sun that she had previously tried to have her
neighbour evicted, but failed. When she went to the Kelowna RCMP, she
said, she was told its drug unit didn’t have the manpower to deal with the
problem.
Stein said one of the officers she talked to — whose name she could not
remember because she spoke with multiple officers on multiple occasions
— told her she should go public with her story.
That’s when Stein called Hayes, a 12-year employee of Castanet who
previously worked as a radio reporter. Hayes, 46, said Stein had compiled
a vast amount of documentation to support her allegations.
“I came to the conclusion that this was driving Ms. Stein crazy to be honest
with you, because she had become obsessed,” Hayes said in a telephone
interview. But “she lacked one thing and that was evidence, [and] being a
veteran journalist there was no question in my mind that there was something
drug-related going on ... so I agreed to help her out.”
Hayes said he knows buying drugs is illegal but it never occurred to him he
might face criminal charges. “My intent — that’s the key word there — was to
produce proof that there was drug dealing,” he said. “So I’d be surprised if
they arrested me for making a purchase and then turning it over.”
Using hidden cameras and audio devices, Hayes — who grew a beard and
dressed in “unkempt” clothing — entered the residence July 24 and bought a
$40 “baggie” of marijuana. When Hayes turned the drugs over to the police
and gave a statement, he said the RCMP told him what he did jeopardized
his safety and the safety of other police officers.
Within hours of Hayes’ video being posted on Castanet on July 25, the RCMP
raided the residence and charged a number of individuals with possession for
the purpose of trafficking. On Friday, Hayes was the subject of a news article
in the Kelowna Daily Courier in which the RCMP said it appeared Hayes had
broken the law and was under investigation and facing possible charges.
“I was pissed,” Hayes said, saying it was the RCMP’s idea that Stein go public
with the story. The Kelowna RCMP did not make anyone available on Sunday
to discuss the case.
exposed an alleged drug operation by going undercover and videotaping
himself purchasing marijuana.
Kelly Hayes of Castanet Media, a Kelowna-based news website, bought the
drugs after being contacted in mid-July by Anna Stein, who believed her
upstairs neighbour was selling drugs illegally.
Stein, 64, told The Vancouver Sun that she had previously tried to have her
neighbour evicted, but failed. When she went to the Kelowna RCMP, she
said, she was told its drug unit didn’t have the manpower to deal with the
problem.
Stein said one of the officers she talked to — whose name she could not
remember because she spoke with multiple officers on multiple occasions
— told her she should go public with her story.
That’s when Stein called Hayes, a 12-year employee of Castanet who
previously worked as a radio reporter. Hayes, 46, said Stein had compiled
a vast amount of documentation to support her allegations.
“I came to the conclusion that this was driving Ms. Stein crazy to be honest
with you, because she had become obsessed,” Hayes said in a telephone
interview. But “she lacked one thing and that was evidence, [and] being a
veteran journalist there was no question in my mind that there was something
drug-related going on ... so I agreed to help her out.”
Hayes said he knows buying drugs is illegal but it never occurred to him he
might face criminal charges. “My intent — that’s the key word there — was to
produce proof that there was drug dealing,” he said. “So I’d be surprised if
they arrested me for making a purchase and then turning it over.”
Using hidden cameras and audio devices, Hayes — who grew a beard and
dressed in “unkempt” clothing — entered the residence July 24 and bought a
$40 “baggie” of marijuana. When Hayes turned the drugs over to the police
and gave a statement, he said the RCMP told him what he did jeopardized
his safety and the safety of other police officers.
Within hours of Hayes’ video being posted on Castanet on July 25, the RCMP
raided the residence and charged a number of individuals with possession for
the purpose of trafficking. On Friday, Hayes was the subject of a news article
in the Kelowna Daily Courier in which the RCMP said it appeared Hayes had
broken the law and was under investigation and facing possible charges.
“I was pissed,” Hayes said, saying it was the RCMP’s idea that Stein go public
with the story. The Kelowna RCMP did not make anyone available on Sunday
to discuss the case.
I think this story falls into the category of, "Huh?"
Really?
Followed by:
Kind'a territorial in a weird sort'a way. What kind of message is
being conveyed here?
