Canadians Pierre Lueders (right), Ben Hindle (left), Ken LeBlanc (centre) and Mark LeBlanc (back right) push their sleigh at the start of the 4-Man World Cup Bobsled heats in Calgary, Sunday February 18, 2001. Former Canadian bobsled team member Leblanc has been charged with extortion.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
October 31, 2013 - 11:50 AM
CALGARY - A former member of the Canadian bobsled team has been charged with extortion.
Ken Leblanc appeared in a Calgary court Wednesday on one charge.
Police allege Leblanc threatened a city resident and claimed he was owed over $100,000 from a failed business deal.
The 45-year-old was arrested Tuesday when the Calgary police's gangs and guns unit executed search warrants at two locations.
Leblanc, originally from Ottawa, was a brakeman for Canada at the 1988, 1992 and 2002 Winter Olympics.
His four-man crew finished fourth in 1992 in Albertville, France. Leblanc was also a brakeman for the four-man team piloted by Pierre Lueders in 2002, when they finished ninth.
Calgary police said a man contacted them in July to complain he was being threatened by an individual.
Leblanc's lawyer did not immediately return a phone message.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013