A blind Mission district councillor said she was "shocked" when police seized two computers from her home that she relies on to communicate with others.
"It was a huge shock," said Coun. Jenny Stevens. "It’s a horrible, horrible feeling."
Stevens said she was unable to function without her database of phone numbers in her computer until police returned one of them.
RCMP Cpl. Holly Marks confirmed a search warrant was issued as part of a criminal investigation involving breach of trust by a public official, a Criminal Code of Canada offence, but she was unable to identify the persons being investigated.
The home of former district councillor Ron Taylor, a longtime friend of Stevens and a person she called her mentor, was also raided and he had three computers seized.
Stevens said she was under orders from her council not to talk to the media.
"I knew there was going to be an investigation because at the last council meeting the possibility of a leak [of information] had been discussed," she said.
"When police came to my door, I assumed at first they were talking to all the councillors, but I found out it was just me," she said.
"I can’t really say much about it except, yes it is a shock and it’s very distressing," said Stevens.
Taylor said he often receives information from a number of different sources about what happens at council meetings, portions of which he said are regularly held "in-camera."
"Council leaks like a sieve," he said. He said he’s under no obligation to keep the information he hears secret any more than a reporter has to if they get similar information.
"I don’t believe I’ve broken the law in any way, shape or form," he said.
He suspects he’s being targeted by council because of his vocal opposition to its controversial inspections of Mission residences suspected of being marijuana grow-ops.
A number of homeowners with higher than average hydro bills but no illegal usage have launched a class-action suit against the city for the return of the thousands of dollars in inspection fees they were forced to pay.
Mission Mayor James Atebe wasn’t available for comment Wednesday and the district’s spokesman, Paul Gipps, didn’t return messages.
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