An 18-month probationary sentence has been given to a woman charged in an incident in Gibbons, Alta., that saw a police officer dragged by a moving vehicle last year.
Cassandra Joy Bruno, 35, an Alexander First Nation resident, was sentenced in Morinville Court of Justice on July 21, 2026, after pleading guilty to one count of taking a motor vehicle without consent. All her other charges were withdrawn.
Meanwhile, co-accused Ryan Calvin Grant, 43, of Onoway, was ordered to stand trial following a preliminary hearing in Morinville Court of Justice on April 23, 2026. A trial date, however, has yet to be set.
Earlier, a second co-accused, Michael James Racicot, 39, of no fixed address, was previously given a four-month sentence in Morinville Court of Justice on Nov. 27, 2025.
He was convicted on one count of failing to comply with a release order. He was also credited, however, with 120 days behind bars, leaving him no time left to serve.
A third co-accused, Joanna Elaine Nussey, 43, of Minburn, had her charges withdrawn on Oct. 30, 2025.
It was on July 29, 2025, at 12:30 a.m., when an officer with the Morinville RCMP conducted a traffic stop on a reportedly stolen vehicle at a gas station in Gibbons. RCMP say as the officer went to arrest the occupants, but the driver started the vehicle and put it in reverse, striking the officer.
Following this, the officer reported jumping into the moving vehicle to avoid injury, where they were able to take the vehicle out of gear and remove the keys from the ignition, just as it struck a tree.
According to police, the officer again tried to arrest the occupants, when the driver allegedly pulled a shotgun from between the seats, exited the vehicle, and threw it in the bed of the truck.
The Morinville officer suffered minor injuries from the incident.
Following a search of the occupants and the vehicle itself, police say they found:
- Small amounts of methamphetamine
- Small amounts of fentanyl
- A false bill of sale
- A sawed off shot gun and ammunition
As a result, Ryan Calvin Grant, was originally charged with:
- Possession of stolen property over $5,000
- Possession of stolen property under $5,000
- Weapons offences (x4)
- Drive a motor vehicle while prohibited(x2)
- Assault a police officer with a weapon
- Fail to comply with a condition of an undertaking (x4)
- Possession of a controlled substance
Cassandra Joy Bruno, was originally charged with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Possession of stolen property under $5,000
- Weapon offences (x4)
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Possession of a forged document
Michael James Racicot, was originally charged with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Weapon offences (x4)
- Fail to comply with release order (x3)
Joanna Elaine Nussey was originally charged with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Weapons offences (x4)
- Fail to comply with probation order (x2)
- Fail to comply with condition of undertaking
- Breach of peace bond
A link to footage from the officer’s body worn camera is available here.
Related: One of four suspects charged in officer dragging incident sentenced to four months
Related: Multiple charged in incident that saw RCMP officer dragged by car
