 Surrounded by photos from morning police raids, Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair speaks with the media during a news conference in Toronto Wednesday June 13, 2007. Blair said more than 60 suspected gang members were arrested in a series of raids across southern Ontario directed primarily aimed at a street gang operating out of northwest Toronto. (CP PHOTO/Adrian Wyld)
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One of the suspected gang members targeted in the massive law enforcement takedown of the Driftwood Crips was apparently tipped off by a family member on the force, a Toronto Police source said yesterday.
The suspect was able to avoid the raids early Wednesday morning but was later arrested and may have removed guns and drugs from his home, the source said.
Another police source said: "This could shatter the foundations of trust on the force."
But the lawyer for the police officer at the centre of the controversy dismissed the allegations as "nonsense" and nothing but "scapegoating".
His client, a five-year veteran, "did nothing wrong," Gary Clewley said.
700 CHARGES
Project Kryptic, involving hundreds of cops in the Driftwood area of Jane St. and Finch Ave., led to more than 700 charges against 98 adults and seven youths alleging gangsterism, drug possession and trafficking, and a slew of firearm offences.
There was no official comment last night from Toronto Police brass but some officers said an internal probe is required.
"There had better be," another source said. "There were at least four gang members who seemed to get away and there was not the amount of guns, cash and drugs found as expected."
Clewley said when police entered a Driftwood-area home they found the officer's ID and other personal items.
'ANOTHER LOCATION'
A police source said, "they immediately tried to determine where he was and they found out he was part of the takedown team but in another location ... turns out this was his mother's home."
When the dust settled his stepbrother and his nephew were charged and the officer was pulled off the road and brought to 31 Division for questioning.
"They dragged him in there and jammed him in a room," Clewley said. "They jammed him up because of his relatives. I told them to charge him or to get out of Dodge."
Police then released his client, he said.
But questions among the officer's colleagues continue.
"Some are wondering if it is possible a member of a street gang could infiltrate the police," a source said.
Clewley called the question ridiculous.
"They didn't find everything they wanted to find and now they are looking for a scapegoat," he said. "He is a good cop."
He happened to be staying with his mother at the time of the raid and had no knowledge that her home would be a target in the project, Clewley said. "He has done nothing wrong."
But a police source said front-line officers are concerned.
Police association president Dave Wilson refused comment last night.
