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RHCowil se using their firearms, but the defence attorney objected that "Police offiâ€" cers know what their rules are. Mr. Bowskill is not part of that group." POLICE CAN‘T FIRE Mr. Martin went on to make the point that most people, and most police, don‘t agree with the restrictions placed on _ Later, the defence lawyer got another police officer , Steve Grosjean, to agree that he would "not be surâ€" prised" if the streets of Colborne, including Highway 2 and Percy Street, as well as Victoria Park, were completely empty of vehicles and pedestrians at 3 to 4 a.m. on the night in question in midâ€"February. ISSUC: Next, the Crown wanted to introduce evidence regarding the restrictions placed on police officers in using their firearms, but w M oew The defence attorney elicited an agreement from the sergeant that such scenes formerly took place, innocent passersâ€"by had been wounded or killed, and it was "not a good thing." fiowever. Staff Sergeant Ron LeClair, commander of the Brighton detachâ€" ment, was allowed to read into evidence the section of police regulations that prohibits police from firing at a vehicle "for the sole purpose of stopping it." en ce i on the part of "armchair experts‘ at Queen‘s Park. C SCce ns datien, their use of firearms, He argued the rtrictions ats a "public relations‘ ploy T Eoo miene The judge "registration issue." Next, the Cr has that KATZENJAMMER KIDS N. Martin countered by sayingthe regulation had been introduced to prevent a . scene . "like the Katzenjammer Kids" in which a rain of bullets might pass back and forth between a feeing vehicle and pursuing police. NOTENOUGH POLICE Mr. Bowskill‘s lawyer made. another point, emphastzing he did not want to cast "blame on the Ontario Provincial Police," but he hinted that the force does not have the staff it needs to respond quickly in all emergency situations. Mr. Martin noted that Mr, Bowskill had once chased suspects from the scene of a burglary in his store, cut them off in his car, and then had to wait 45 minâ€" Day in court not been charged with ruled that is not an Late in the day.the Crown . called Garry Connolly of Colborne to the stand. Mr. Connolly, who witnessed the breakâ€" in from his apartment at 1 King Street West, told the court he called 911. The defence lawyer made the point that Mr. Bowskill had been previâ€" ously advised by Staff Sergeant LeClair that "the OPP can‘t always come to the rescue." WITNESS SAW BREAKâ€"IN utes for police to arrive to make an arrest. y 12, 1994 Mr. Martin then asked Det. Grosjean whether he had indicated to the pharâ€" macist that the firearm had been improperly stored before police seized dream this?" the defence lawyer asked the officer. Mr. Martin said Mr. Bowskill had feared for his safety when police told him the third man, "a member of a motoreycle gang" had been released. The trial on the two charges continues Sept. 1, beginning at 10 a.m. in Brighton court. "No I didn‘t," the officer admitted. He said he had been "dumbâ€" founded." Druggist regretted firing at thieves‘ van, court told BRIGHTON (CP) â€" A pharâ€" macist charged with firing a reâ€" A1O metorono si store said to a neighbor, "I ;téoultgst:g have shot," the neighâ€" t testified yesterday. : Stephen Bowskill, 44, has pleaded not guilty to careless use and unsafe storage of a fireâ€" arm in the incident late one night in February outside his store in nearby Colborne, 120 kilometres east of Metro. Bowskill enjoys the support of many local residents, who say charges should be dropped ‘because police response times in the area are slow. He faces a maximum reformatory sentence of two years Tess a day if conâ€" two men broke into his drugâ€" The neighbor said he spoke with Bowskill shortly after the brealtâ€"in as the pharmacist, who lives in an apartment above the Page 3 Even though Colborne does not have 911 response service, a tape played in the court proved that an operator had answered and connected Mr. Connolly with the OPP. Under the Crown‘s quesâ€" tioning, Mr. Connolly claimed to have seen the breakâ€"in and the gunfire that occurred later. But under crossâ€"examination by the defence, Mr. Connolly admitted that, during the approximately seven minutes he spent on the phone, he had missed Mr. Bowskill‘s shots at the tire. GUN CHARGES: Pharmacist Stephen Bowskill, 44, right, talks to reporters outside the Brighton courthouse, where he appeared yesterday. continued from page 1 Later on the morning of â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€" the robbery, Mr. Connolly testified Mr. Bowskill had en though Colborne admitted to him, "I not have 911 shouldn‘t have shot. I‘m nse service, a tape _ foing to be charged." Bank in his opening address that Bowskill had been warned previously not to use a gun to protect his business. Court heard Bowskill, who had been robbed cight times previously and. helped appreâ€" hend suspects on three occaâ€" sions, went duw‘p to the store store, waited for provincial poâ€" lice to arrive. ing to be charged,‘ " Gary Conâ€" olly told Ontario Court‘s provinâ€" clal division. "I said, ‘Why you?" and he said ‘I shouldn‘t have shot "* Crown . Attorney _ David Thompson . told Judge John "I asked him how he was, and Stephen said, ‘Oh damn, I‘m goâ€" after hearing noises. Two bulâ€" lets were fired into the right rear tire of the van. _ Its occupants were later conâ€" victed of robbery and sentenced to two years. UNSAFE STORAGE On the charge of unsafe storage of a firearm, Constable Steve Grosjean testified that, on the day following the robbery, he had attended at Downey Pharmacy to obtain invoicâ€" es from Mr. Bowskill for the drugs stolen during the robbery the previous night. He told the court he also asked Mr. Bowskill at that time to voluntarily turn Bowski!l did not testify yesâ€" terday as the prosecution preâ€" sented part of its case. The trial resumes Sept. 1, when it‘s exâ€" pected to wrap up. About 75 of Bowskill‘s supâ€" porters, some wearing yellow tibbons, packed the courtroom and spilled into the hallways. "Within our community he‘s a hero," said Nadia Krajczyls, who organized a petition that has been signed by about 4,600 peoâ€" ple. "More of an issue was made of Steven than the people who stole these drugs." OPP _ Detective . Constable Steve Grosjean, who responded to Bowskill‘s robbery complaint, said the pharmacist handed him four bullets and two shell casâ€" ings. He also said he scized a shotgun from the storeâ€" "I guess you could say I was dumbfounded," he testified. The Colborne Chronicle, Tuesday, He said Mr. Bowskill agreed, and immediately reached behind him and produced a loaded shot. gun stored in the dispenâ€" sary area of the pharmacy. The detective said the gun appeared not to have been locked up. over all firearms in his possession, Under crossâ€"examination by the defence, Det. Grosjean said he did not recalls having told Mr. Bowskill that a third perâ€" son who had beéen arrestâ€" ed in connection with the robbery had been released and that he was exceedâ€" ingly angry at having been arrested at all. "Did Mr. Bowskill just . Jul