After 3 years of RCMP & Thunder Bay Police Service investigation no evidence of fraud* found

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/This post was originally published on March 5th, 2011/

* - in regards to any painting and/or paintings done by Norval Morrisseau


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>>> An Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigation which began in 2008 has now ended. Accusations were made about fraudulent works of art done by the late Norval Morrisseau being sold to the public by galleries, auction houses and private vendors. The police departments in Milton, Ontario and Thunder Bay, Ontario were both lead to investigate. After first contacting the Milton RCMP Detachment this writer was told by staff that the case was closed and sent to the Thunder Bay Police Service. Our first conversation began with Sgt William (Bill) Quarrell of the Thunder Bay Police Service Department (tel: 807-684-1256) afterwards. Leading the investigation in Thunder Bay his team found 'no evidence of fraud in relation to any painting and/or paintings done by Norval Morrisseau' as per our conversation over the phone. Sgt Quarrell also made note that the case was closed in Thunder Bay and that it would be re-sent back down to Milton RCMP.

We later contacted the RCMP ‘Toronto West Detachment ‘ in Milton, Ontario and spoke to the leading investigative officer Sgt Gary E. Harvey (tel:905-876-9629) Sergeant Harvey was in charge of the Toronto and Greater Toronto Area of the investigation at the time of this interviewer's call in the month of February 2011. He concluded with our conversation that his investigative team had found 'no evidence of fraud in regards to any painting and/or paintings done by Norval Morrisseau'.

SUMMARY: The case began in Milton, Ontario in 2008 with many vendors, gallery owners, collectors and private citizens questioned. This case was later moved up to the Thunder Bay Police Service Department. Both investigative branches of this case have been closed down and no arrests were ever made by these two police departments to anyone in regards to accusations made of fraudulent paintings being sold at auction houses, galleries, and by private vendors - WHICH IS CONTRARY TO FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS PRESENTED IN BLOGOSPHERE AND ELSWHERE.

NOTE: The Blog Master of the NORVAL MORRISSEAU BLOG (Ugo Matulić a.k.a. Spirit Walker) was interviewed on a voluntary basis in 2009 for about 1.5 hours by Cpl Judith Falbo. Who worked for the RCMP Federal Enforcement Section in Milton, Ontario – Toronto West Detachment; and currently works at NCO I/C Kitchener Federal Enforcement Section (tel: 519-896-3542; ext 481). Cpl Judith Falbo also confirmed that after three years of investigation that the RCMP had found 'no evidence of fraud in regards to any painting and/or paintings done by Norval Morrisseau'.

BLOG MASTER'S COMMENT: After three years of investigation by Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Thunder Bay Police Service and after four court cases over the period of five years (see reference posts listed below) nobody has ever been successful in pointing out one case where it was proven that someone made, sold, distributed or even marketed one "fake" Norval Morrisseau painting.
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>>> Reference posts:
1.1 - Otavnik vs. Vadas SC 07-51428-00,
2.1 - Michael Moniz vs. CTV Globemedia Publishing Inc.,
3.1 - Drs. Browne and Witmer vs. Bearclaw Gallery,
4.1 - Otavnik Vs Sinclair SC 09-00082782-0000 &
4.2 - CASE SUMMARY: Otavnik Vs Sinclair SC 09-00082782-0000.
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