Sudbury police officer accused of threatening a young player found not guilty | CBC News

An Espanola, Ont., court found a Sudbury police officer not guilty of threatening a 13-year-old hockey player at the town’s arena.

Melisa Rancourt, 51, was acquitted of the charge Tuesday. She also faced two other charges in this case, namely assault and causing a disturbance, but those were dropped before and during the trial, respectively.

The allegations against Rancourt stemmed from an exchange during a hockey game on Feb. 11, 2024, in which the young player accused her of threatening and physically assaulting him.

In her testimony during the trial, Rancourt, who was the head coach of an Espanola hockey team, said she intended to speak with the opposing team’s coach that day about some unsportsmanlike conduct, including racial slurs, inappropriate bodychecks and taunting. 

“I often have conversations with coaches after games to discuss what has gone on,” she told the court.

She said she was unable to find the other team’s coach and briefly spoke with one of the young players instead.

She maintained she told that young player: “Tell your teammate that if he’s going to blow kisses by the bench he should make sure the referee doesn’t see because it’s unsportsmanlike conduct.” 

The player, whose name is protected by a publication ban, told the court that Rancourt told him: “If you guys do another celebration like that I’ll make sure you never skate again,” and implied she would break his and his teammates’ ankles. 

The player told police officers Rancourt had assaulted him by touching his upper body, but later testified in court he had “messed some up” with his statement to police.

Security footage at the arena showed there was no physical contact between Rancourt and the player.

Rancourt’s lawyer, Len Walker, told CBC news that was the first time in his 40-year career that a witness told him he made it all up.

Walker said Rancourt plans to sue the Ontario Provincial Police for a “negligent investigation and malicious prosecution when everything they said that she did did not actually happen.”

Walker added that officers who investigated the allegations against Rancourt failed to speak with certain witnesses, including a retired OPP officer who was at the game, who could have cleared Rancourt of any wrongdoing.

“My client is relieved because she had kind of lost faith in the justice system,” Walker said.

He added that Rancourt continues to be banned from any property owned by the town of Espanloa, including the hockey arena where her son plays.

“I’ll let them know that these charges were dismissed and there’s no basis upon which they could issue a Trespass to Property Act notice unless they just didn’t like her,” he said.

Police suspension

The Greater Sudbury Police Service, where Rancourt is employed, has suspended her from her job since the allegations first came to light.

“We understand that such cases can have a profound impact on our community, and we remain focused on continuing to build trust and strengthen relationships with the people we serve, ” Greater Sudbury Police Service spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn said in an email to CBC News.

Dunn said a Rancourt’s disciplinary hearing is scheduled to resume on May 13 now that the criminal trial has concluded.