Child Abduction

Fast forward to 2002... Jim has been gathering information on the contamination of the local rivers for a while now, including but not limited to: sample analysis, video documentation, audio recordings of major players, satellite images of natural gas leaks, and thousands of pages of correspondence with the oil/gas companies, Alberta Environment, Alberta Energies and Utilities Board, and Sharp Environmental.

On June 25, 2002 Jim filed a Statement of Claim (Action # 0204-00502) against the following defendants:
1) Baytex Energy Ltd.
2) Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL)
3) Conoco Canada Inc.
4) Keyspan Energy Canada Inc.

At the time Jim had enlisted the help of Denise A. Minue of Dobko, Logan, Innes and Hughes Law Firm. She in turn enlisted the help of other law firms; Mathieu Hryniuk and Simpson and Thietke & Associates. Not long after this, the law firms returned Jim's retainer, claiming the case was "too big for their firms". Jim later learned that at the time, Denise was only a student of law.

Around March, 2005, Charity Ostrem, the mother of Jim's children, left their home, children, and personal belongings. This was done of her own free will and was finalized in April. Jim had also talked to Mary Biggs of Human Resources (Peace River Division) seeking funding for a babysitter for his children and to discuss Charity's behavior due to long term heavy metal poisoning. He said her behavior was to such a point that she could not conduct her persons effectively and responsibly in the presence of her children, spouse, and others that came in contact with her. Jim stated that he loved her very much and that this situation was carried on due to the holding back of records by the Human Resources Division. Those records contained evidence of liquid industrial waste being transported through natural gas pipeline systems. Also being held back were medical records and the actions of others over the last 5 years by Human Resources and Mistahia Health Care personnel. Mary Biggs indicated that she could not help with aid for a babysitter and referred Jim to Sherri Pawlyshyn at Child and Family Services Division - Fairview Branch. Mary Biggs stated she would phone Sheri and explain Jim's problem of needing funds for a babysitter so Jim could work and take care of the needs of his children.

Around April 18, Jim went to see Sheri Pawlyshyn at Child and Family Services. He took his kids with him as well. She had asked him personal questions about the reasons for the separation. It upset him to talk about these events. The kids saw this, which made them upset as well. Jim explained to his children that it makes daddy feel better to talk about these things. Sheri then gave Jim a bundle of papers and said she would be in touch. Jim told her she was welcome to stop by his house anytime for tea and to see his house. When he left, he looked at the papers and realized they dealt with husband abuse. Also unknown to Jim at the time was that the CFSA division did not have funding for a babysitter. But Sheri Pawlyshyn took up Jim's offer to visit the house anyway...

Sheri Pawlyshyn and Suzanne McGeough made an unannounced stop at Jim's home. The sky was clear and warm with a slight breeze as the two ladies pulled up in the driveway. The children were cautioned of the incoming SUV. Two of the boys were running around by the trampoline and back and forth to the service truck. The two boys were having fun playing tag and the other two children were with Jim. Jim was looking for parts in his truck for a robot his son Michael was building. The vehicle stopped and the two women stepped out. After introductions the women were invited to a picnic table where the three adults sat along with Kalie, Jim's daughter. After some small talk Jim invited the two women into the house for coffee or tea. Jim gave them a tour of the house and they commented how clean and organized everything was. Jim then began to discuss his court actions with them and showed them numerous documentations dealing with water contamination and explained to them that the date for discoveries in court for all of this was December 1, 2005. He gave Suzanne a copy of the Ministers Report before they left. On September 14, 2005 Jim received a letter from Mary Biggs stating he was not eligible for the funding he requested.

Between September 15 and September 30, 2005 Jim received a disturbing phone call from Sheri Pawlyshyn. She began an argument with Jim about him not having a new mother in the home. Jim stated that the only reason he came to her was for babysitter funding and she had no business telling Jim who he should have laying in his bed. Sheri Pawlyshyn then said things to Jim about the direction of his oilfield case. This last statement flipped a "caution switch" in Jim's mind and he went downstairs to his office and turned on his telephone recording system. By this time Sheri was yelling and threatening Jim with R.C.M.P. actions if he did not go to her office for a voluntary assessment. Jim then cut in on Sheri's yelling and said "Sheri Pawlyshyn I am recording you on the oilfield recording system and you just threatened me with RCMP action if I did not go into your voluntary assessments. You forgot that I came to you to attain funds for a babysitter and that was to fulfill Mary Biggs requirements so I would be eligible for funding. Don't forget your office holds a filed copy of the Ministers report in your possession. Where is it?" Sheri immediately began backpedaling.

Jim, now even more upset, told Sheri never to phone back. She then proceeded to start a new line of verbal abuse on him. Now that she had been infringing on all of his rights, he said flat out "F**k off and leave me and my kids alone. I already know Mary Biggs is married to your director" and hung up the phone. Sheri Pawlyshyn did not contact him again until November 22, 2005.

On November 22, 2005 Jim got up around 6:15AM and worked on some paperwork for his Court of the Queen's Bench Action until 7:00AM. He then got his three boys up for school. His daughter Kalie was with her mother. The boys got on their bus for school at 7:40AM and Jim went and had some coffee and typed more on his case for another hour and then went about doing some house chores. At approximately 9:00AM there was a banging at his door. Jim opened the door and saw it was Cam Ritchie and Dang Nguyen of the local RCMP. Cam Ritchie asked Jim if anyone else was at the house and Jim said no. Then, without warning, the two police officers grabbed Jim and dragged him out onto the doorstep, spun him around 180 degrees, and handcuffed him. Now standing outside, one of the officers threw Jim's head and upper body to the floor. There was no resistance from Jim . At this point, Jim was face down and his waist, bare feet, and legs were outside in the November snow.

Terrified by the two attackers, Jim did not move a muscle or speak. Now out of breath due to having Dang’s knee firmly pressed into his back, Jim said quietly, "I have a bone chip floating near my neck, please don't, please." The pressure was slightly eased up and then reapplied. With Dang's knee still in place, he grabbed Jim's head and lifted and turned it so Jim could see over his right shoulder. Dang's two hands were holding up Jim's head and his right knee was grinding into Jim's spine. With Dang holding him in this fashion, Cam Ritchie placed his right hand flat on Jim's spine in the middle above Dang's knee. Cam Ritchie then pressed down hard and Jim screamed in pain. Dang yelled "Listen Up!" and gave Jim's head a forcible shake. Then Cam Ritchie drew his face near to where Jim could barely see him over his right shoulder. Cam Ritchie said loud and clear:

"You will keep your mouth shut and not say a word about Scott Watson, Canadian Natural Resources, or Lothar Reucker. Forget Gregg Smith, Jeremy Spencer, and Hans Peters. This issue is now closed, and you better sell this place and move if you want your kids back. Since you are broke, I have a $500.00 fine to collect, so you are off to Peace River Jail for 10 days."

When Jim asked about his children, Cam said "Don't worry we will take care of them" and laughed.

Northern Alberta Surface Water Study

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