- Reaction score
- 6,429
- Points
- 1,360
http://www.torontosun.com/2012/06/19/former-soldiers-dreams-crushed-by-shooting-accusations
Former soldier's dreams crushed by shooting accusations
By Chris Doucette ,Toronto Sun
First posted: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 08:22 PM EDT | Updated: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 09:09 PM EDT
TORONTO - Warren Bate wanted more than anything to be a cop.
But the former Canadian soldier’s dream was shattered two years ago when Durham Regional Police invited him to come in and talk about a job — and instead accused him of attempted murder.
The 35-year-old has lived under a cloud of suspicion ever since because investigators allege they found his old army foot locker — evidence they claim ties him to several shootings.
“I just want my life back,” an emotional Bate said recently after reaching out to the Toronto Sun, believing his only remaining option was to go public with his story.
Bate’s life began to unravel in the fall of 2010.
He had served his country for 12 years as a reservist with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, an infantry unit in Cobourg, and was working at General Motors while coaching minor hockey and volunteering as a Big Brother.
But he “wanted more out of life,” so he left GM to pursue his goal of becoming a police officer.
Bate applied to services across the province and returned to college to upgrade his education while waiting for acceptance.
On Oct. 28, 2010, it appeared his dream was coming true.
He arrived home to a message on his answering machine from a woman identifying herself as a constable from Durham’s police recruiting department.
“Warren, I’m calling about your application with us,” the officer said, before asking him to come in and “discuss our recruiting process.”
“I was super excited,” Bate recalled.
Dressed in his best suit, he walked into a police station the next day unaware that moments later he’d be trapped in a nightmare.
A plainclothes officer asked him, “Do you know why you’re here?”
“I said, ‘I’m here to talk about a possible job with the police,’” Bate recalled. “He said, ‘Not exactly.’ Then he showed me a picture of my old military barracks box (an army-issued foot locker).”
Suddenly he found himself accused of attempted murder, facing questions about the shooting of a pick-up truck on Hwy. 401 and several other gunplay incidents from a few months earlier.
Bate, who has no criminal record, was stunned. He still trembles as he thinks about that moment.
The detective also pulled out a photo of a rifle and told him officers were searching his pick-up truck in the parking lot and others were searching his home.
“I thought they were joking,” Bate said.
Bate, who said he doesn't own any firearms, told the cop he returned his barracks box, along with most of his other kit, when he left the army in 2006.
The only items he was allowed to keep were his uniforms and footwear and he told the officer he had paperwork at home to prove it.
Bate, who is single and has no kids, also pointed out that while his name was still stencilled on the barracks box in the police photo, someone else had added “pink pony stickers” on the side.
But the officer didn’t believe him.
He was told the contents of the barracks box, which included 250 rounds of ammunition and smoke grenades, were “unique” to him.
A “legal aid lawyer” advised him not to answer any questions, but Bate decided to be cooperative, convinced the whole mess could be easily cleared up.
“I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong,” he said.
Bate claims he was “interrogated” by three cops and a military police officer, who alleged he didn’t return any of his gear when he was honourably released.
“They told me I’m leading a double life just like Russell Williams,” he said, referring to the former Canadian Forces colonel who imprisoned for two murders and numerous sex attacks.
Bate claims the officers also made references to his relationship with his Little Brother, telling him people often volunteer with kids “to hide who they really are.”
After six hours of questions, he was allowed to leave.
A few months later, Bate received a letter from Ottawa police telling him his application had been “declined” and he was “prohibited” from applying to other Ontario services for a year.
Durham cops confirmed a barracks box was found in a field and that they are still probing the July 28 shooting of a vehicle on a Hwy. 401 on-ramp at Courtice Rd.
But they refused to comment further or say if Bate remains a person of interest in the case.
“This firearms investigation is open and ongoing,” Sgt. Nancy van Rooy said. “No charges have been laid.”
Despite all he has endured, Bate is reluctant to say anything bad about police. In his heart, he’s hoping he may still get to be a cop some day.
“I know mistakes happen,” he said. “But I wish they would either charge me, so I can defend myself, or clear my name.
Former soldier's dreams crushed by shooting accusations
By Chris Doucette ,Toronto Sun
First posted: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 08:22 PM EDT | Updated: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 09:09 PM EDT
TORONTO - Warren Bate wanted more than anything to be a cop.
But the former Canadian soldier’s dream was shattered two years ago when Durham Regional Police invited him to come in and talk about a job — and instead accused him of attempted murder.
The 35-year-old has lived under a cloud of suspicion ever since because investigators allege they found his old army foot locker — evidence they claim ties him to several shootings.
“I just want my life back,” an emotional Bate said recently after reaching out to the Toronto Sun, believing his only remaining option was to go public with his story.
Bate’s life began to unravel in the fall of 2010.
He had served his country for 12 years as a reservist with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, an infantry unit in Cobourg, and was working at General Motors while coaching minor hockey and volunteering as a Big Brother.
But he “wanted more out of life,” so he left GM to pursue his goal of becoming a police officer.
Bate applied to services across the province and returned to college to upgrade his education while waiting for acceptance.
On Oct. 28, 2010, it appeared his dream was coming true.
He arrived home to a message on his answering machine from a woman identifying herself as a constable from Durham’s police recruiting department.
“Warren, I’m calling about your application with us,” the officer said, before asking him to come in and “discuss our recruiting process.”
“I was super excited,” Bate recalled.
Dressed in his best suit, he walked into a police station the next day unaware that moments later he’d be trapped in a nightmare.
A plainclothes officer asked him, “Do you know why you’re here?”
“I said, ‘I’m here to talk about a possible job with the police,’” Bate recalled. “He said, ‘Not exactly.’ Then he showed me a picture of my old military barracks box (an army-issued foot locker).”
Suddenly he found himself accused of attempted murder, facing questions about the shooting of a pick-up truck on Hwy. 401 and several other gunplay incidents from a few months earlier.
Bate, who has no criminal record, was stunned. He still trembles as he thinks about that moment.
The detective also pulled out a photo of a rifle and told him officers were searching his pick-up truck in the parking lot and others were searching his home.
“I thought they were joking,” Bate said.
Bate, who said he doesn't own any firearms, told the cop he returned his barracks box, along with most of his other kit, when he left the army in 2006.
The only items he was allowed to keep were his uniforms and footwear and he told the officer he had paperwork at home to prove it.
Bate, who is single and has no kids, also pointed out that while his name was still stencilled on the barracks box in the police photo, someone else had added “pink pony stickers” on the side.
But the officer didn’t believe him.
He was told the contents of the barracks box, which included 250 rounds of ammunition and smoke grenades, were “unique” to him.
A “legal aid lawyer” advised him not to answer any questions, but Bate decided to be cooperative, convinced the whole mess could be easily cleared up.
“I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong,” he said.
Bate claims he was “interrogated” by three cops and a military police officer, who alleged he didn’t return any of his gear when he was honourably released.
“They told me I’m leading a double life just like Russell Williams,” he said, referring to the former Canadian Forces colonel who imprisoned for two murders and numerous sex attacks.
Bate claims the officers also made references to his relationship with his Little Brother, telling him people often volunteer with kids “to hide who they really are.”
After six hours of questions, he was allowed to leave.
A few months later, Bate received a letter from Ottawa police telling him his application had been “declined” and he was “prohibited” from applying to other Ontario services for a year.
Durham cops confirmed a barracks box was found in a field and that they are still probing the July 28 shooting of a vehicle on a Hwy. 401 on-ramp at Courtice Rd.
But they refused to comment further or say if Bate remains a person of interest in the case.
“This firearms investigation is open and ongoing,” Sgt. Nancy van Rooy said. “No charges have been laid.”
Despite all he has endured, Bate is reluctant to say anything bad about police. In his heart, he’s hoping he may still get to be a cop some day.
“I know mistakes happen,” he said. “But I wish they would either charge me, so I can defend myself, or clear my name.
