Trial for Sudbury police officer accused of uttering threats and causing a disturbance to wrap up in March

The trial of Greater Sudbury Police officer charged with uttering threats and causing a disturbance at a hockey game in Espanola has been rescheduled to March 27, after a key witness for the Crown failed to show up to court last October.

The trial, which began in September, was expected to last two days, but the judge, Crown attorney and defence lawyer said there would not be enough time to hear all the witnesses in that timeframe, including the accused Melisa Rancourt. 

Early on in the trial the court heard Rancourt was coaching the local Espanola minor hockey team when she allegedly threatened to break the ankles of players on the Walden team over their reportedly unsportsmanlike conduct.

The first day of the trial focused on the testimony of three of the Crown's witnesses who described what happened on February 11, 2024 at the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex.

Sean Cassidy, who was the senior official of the game that day, told the court what started off as a typically friendly game between two local U13 teams evolved into a closely contested match. 

"[Rancourt] was getting more and more animated throughout the game," he said. "There was a lot of kicking the bench…it appeared in anger or frustration."

13-year-old player a key witness in the trial

Late into the third period, a player with the visiting Walden team scored a goal and skated past the Espanola team bench blowing kisses at them. 

Cassidy says the gesture could have been interpreted as a celebration, although some say it was a taunt. He says the stakes were too low to make a call of unsportsmanlike conduct.

"It brought Rancourt to another level of anger," said Cassidy, adding there was no physical altercation. "She never went on the ice or anything... she was pretty upset by how the game ended." 

The Crown's second witness was a 13-year-old player with the Walden team who spoke with Rancourt near the dressing rooms after the match. His identity is protected by a publication ban.

He said Rancourt told him "if you guys do another celebration like that I'll make sure you never skate again." 

When he asked her how she would do that, she allegedly replied something insinuating she could break his and his teammates' ankles.

The player says he was scared because Rancourt seemed serious.

Court views video footage of the incident 

The court viewed soundless video footage captured by a surveillance camera in the corridor where the incident occurred. It showed a brief interaction between Rancourt and the youth.

During cross examination, Rancourt's lawyer pointed out the differences in the report the player filed with the police and the video footage of the incident. 

For instance, the 13-year-old initially told authorities Rancourt had touched him with her upper body. This is why Rancourt was initially charged with assault before the Crown withdrew the charge in July.

The footage of the incident shows there was no physical contact between Rancourt and the 13-year-old.

Upon viewing the video footage of the incident before the trial, the 13-year-old told the court "I messed some up."

He said fear played with his memory of the event.

On Wednesday, an OPP officer who was off-duty during during the incident took the stand. Joshua Bronicheski said he heard Rancourt tell the youth: "Tell your players next time they skate by the bench..." and did not hear what was said after that.

Rancourt has been suspended with pay since the charges were laid against her seven months ago. 

In an unrelated incident from 2022, she pleaded guilty to a charge of discreditable conduct for refusing to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter the arena, and causing a scene when police were called to intervene.