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Metropolitan Toronto Police

Intra-Departmental correspondence

Inspector Roy Soplet

I/c General Assignment Squad

Tuesday, May 7th, 1974




At about 11pm, Wednesday, April 17, 1974, a security guard at 330 University Avenue found two men in the premises and notified the police. Members of the 52 Division attended and the two men were taken into custody. At the time of the arrest a set of lock picks were seized. The arrested persons were Michael William CHORNOPESKY, 21 years, of X Hazelton Avenue, apartment #X and Allen COULSON @ Keith SUMMERFIELD, 30 years, of X Hazelton Aveneue, apartment #X. This occurrence was investigated by Sargeant Beckett, #1027 and Sargeant Yeandle, #1857 of Number 52 Division. Michael CHORNOPESKY gave the officers a statement in which he stated that the lock picks had been made by himself from pieces of bicycle spokes. He further stated that both men were in the premises of 330 University Avenue for the purposes of entering the offices of Weir and Foulds, barristers and solicitors, situated on the sixth floor. A search of the premises at X Hazelton Avenue, apartment X, was conducted by the investigating officers. During the search the officers found two "E" meters and a considerable amount of printed material from the Church of Scientology. Neither of the arrested men made any references to the Church of Scientology during the investigation but Michael CHORNOPESKY stated that the reason they were going to enter the lawyers offices was to obtain some files

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from the office records. Further investigations revealed that solicitor Mr. A. McN. Austin has an office in this suite. Mr. Austin is acting for the McLean family, defending them in an action brought against themselves and others by the Church of Scientology. Mr. Austin was retaining a quantity of documentary files of the McLean family which were to be used in the defense against the Church of Scientology and also a civil action contemplated by the McLean family against the Church. As a result of the above information, it was assumed that the two arrested men were in fact scientologists and were attempting to get the McLean file. As soon as Mr. Austin became aware of this fact, he contacted the solicitor representing each other individual named in the Church of Scientology action so they could take measures to safeguard their files. Mr. Rust-D’Eye, the City solicitor representing my interests in the matter was contacted by one of the other solicitors and contacted me and advised me accordingly. Mr. Sidney KATZ of the Toronto Daily Star is also named in the action and the lawyer representing him was advised of the occurrence. No doubt this is how Mr. John Saunders of the Toronto Daily Star first became aware of the two men being arrested. Mr. Saunders contacted me by telephone at about 2.00 p.m., Thursday, April 18, 1974, to make enquiries about the entries and arrests. I advised him that I was not familiar with this matter as I was not involved but that the occurrence having taken place at the address Mr. Saunders supplied, would have been investigation by officers of Number 52 Division.

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As a result of information received from Sergeant Beckett of number 52 division investigation office, I attended the Old City Hall at about 9.30 a.m., Thursday, April 25, 1974, where Michael William CHORNOPESKY and Alan COULSON were pointed out to me in the corridor outside 21 Court. I did not recognize either of the men.

 

After their court appearance Sergeant Beckett spoke with them in the corridor and they accompanied him to the Old City Hall investigative office. I had no contact with them until I spoke with them in the investigative office. I put a number of questions to them relevant to Scientology but they declined to answer any of the questions.

I then asked Mr. Coulson to locate Mr. Harvey Daiter and advised him that I wished to speak with him about the possibility of additional charges being laid against the two men. Mr. CHORNOPESKY remained with Sergeant Beckett and myself at the investigative office while Mr. Coulson left in search of Mr. Daiter.

Mr. Coulson and Mr. Daiter returned to the office shortly after, at which time I advised Mr. Daiter that consideration was being give to laying on additional charge of conspiracy to commit indictable offence against his two clients. At this time Mr. Daiter inquired whether the two men were under arrest on this charge and was advised that they were not and that the charge was only being considered at this time. Mr. Daiter advised the two clients to leave, which they did.

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After a brief conversation with Mr. Daiter I left the Old City Hall in company with Sergeant Beckett.

Apparently the Number 52 Division investigating officers spoke to Mr. Rickaby, the assistant crown attorney about this occurrence and the fact that the two accused were presumed to be scientologists after the McLean files. Since I had previously consulted Mr. Rickaby for advise concerning other material relating to the Church of Scientology, he advised Sergeant Beckett to contact me and arranged for a meeting at his office to be attended by the number 52 division officers and myself on Thursday, April 25, 1974. Mr. Rickaby was considering the possibility of laying an additional charge of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence against the two accused and including the senior officials of the Church of Scientology who would normally direct the actions of the two already arrested. Mr. Rickaby has this matter under consideration at this time. I met Mr. Harvey Daiter in the Old City Hall corridor the same date and he was aware of the meeting and wanted to know what was going to happen. I advised him that Mr. Rickaby had the matter under consideration and I did not know what his decision might be. Mr. Daiter called me by telephone at the office again on Monday, April 29, 1974, and asked if any decision had been reached as to any further charges being laid. He was advised that Mr. Rickaby still had the matter under consideration. I had been told by Mr. Rust-D’Eye, the City solicitor that Mr. Daiter was not representing the Church of Scientology in any future matters.

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When I met Mr. Daiter in the Old City Hall corridor, I mentioned this fact to him and he replied that the information was correct. I then asked him that if that was so, how did he get involved with the two accused men. He replied that they had been sent to him by the Church of Scientology, that whenever something of importance took place, the church always took the matter to his office.

When Sergeant Beckett and Sergeant Yeandle found this scientology matter in the home of the two accused men, they contacted me to ascertain whether the accused were known to me. I advised them that I did not know either of the accused but since I was familiar with senior members of the Church of Scientology, I would make an inquiry on their behalf. I attended at the Church of Scientology and spoke with Mr. Brian Levman and Mr. Gary Jepson and asked if either or both the accused were members of the church and would have rightful possession of the material found on their premises or whether he had any report of theft of such material. Mr. Levman left and said he would check his records for the information. He returned a short time later and stated that neither of the two accused were members of that church and that they were not known to himself or Mr. Jepson. He also stated that he had no report of the theft of the property. Since that time, I have learned that both men are members of the Church of Scientology and have seen documents bearing their names under the hand of Mr. Brian Levman of the Church of Scientology. These documents were published by the church. I have also learned

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That the two accused men are members of the guardian group of the church. The guardian office is an ethics branch of the organization which police activition (sp) of and against the Church of Scientology. The guardian office is directly under control of Guardian Officer, Mr. Brian Levman, who is also head of all the Churches of Scientology in Canada. Mr. Jepson is president or head of the Church of Scientology in Toronto.

It is obvious to myself that Mr. Levman in denying knowledge of the two accused men is endeavouring (sp) to protect the interests of the Church of Scientology but at the same time is furnishing a solicitor to defend the two accused.

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

John Fallis

Staff Sergeant #4828

General Assignment Squad