Sault Man Sentenced After Stealing RCMP Officer’s Service Handgun from Parked Vehicle

A Sault Ste. Marie man has been sentenced to nearly three years in custody after pleading guilty to stealing an RCMP officer’s loaded service handgun from an unmarked police vehicle parked outside a local hotel, a case that raised serious concerns about firearm security and public safety.

Waasmo Bradford, 29, admitted to multiple offences connected to the August 7, 2024 incident, during which he and another individual broke into a vehicle parked at the Holiday Inn Express on Bay Street and stole a black satchel containing an RCMP-issued Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic service pistol, ammunition and magazines.

Bradford originally faced 24 criminal charges but pleaded guilty to five offences, including possession of a prohibited firearm, break and enter a motor vehicle and three firearm possession offences. The remaining charges were withdrawn following the guilty plea.

The handgun belonged to RCMP Corporal Daniel Cassidy, who was travelling between Orillia and Michipicoten First Nation. Court proceedings revealed that the officer had placed a suitcase in the trunk of his unmarked vehicle while leaving a black satchel containing his service firearm on the front passenger seat before returning to the hotel for breakfast.

The satchel contained the loaded handgun, three magazines and 45 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Although the vehicle was equipped with a secure firearm lockbox in the trunk, it was not used.

Surveillance footage presented in court showed two masked individuals moving through the hotel parking lot checking parked vehicles shortly after the officer returned inside. Within minutes, Bradford was seen removing the satchel from the vehicle and walking away with it over his shoulder.

Evidence reviewed during the investigation suggested the vehicle door may have been left unlocked or open, allowing the theft to occur without forced entry.

The officer later travelled to Michipicoten First Nation for an official treaty annuity payment event before discovering that the satchel was missing. He returned to Sault Ste. Marie several hours later and reported the missing firearm to local police more than 11 hours after it had been stolen.

The delayed report prompted an extensive investigation by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the hotel and nearby businesses, eventually identifying Bradford after images captured him without a mask at a nearby store.

The following day, police executed a search warrant at a residence on Cathcart Street. Officers found children inside the home while Bradford attempted to flee through the back door. He was arrested with the assistance of the police canine unit after a brief pursuit.

Police recovered the stolen RCMP service handgun near the rear of the residence. The firearm remained loaded with live ammunition when it was found, significantly increasing concerns about the potential danger posed to the public.

During sentencing, Justice Michael Varpio acknowledged there was no clear evidence that Bradford knew the satchel contained a firearm when it was initially taken. However, the judge stated that once the bag was opened, Bradford would have immediately realized he was in possession of a loaded police service weapon.

The court emphasized that what may have begun as a vehicle theft quickly became an extremely serious criminal offence because of the dangerous nature of the stolen firearm and ammunition.

Justice Varpio noted that the unlawful possession of a loaded handgun creates significant risks to public safety and requires meaningful penalties to deter similar offences.

Bradford’s defence lawyer told the court that his client faced significant personal challenges, including the long-term effects of intergenerational trauma linked to his family’s residential school history. The court also heard that during his 701 days in pre-trial custody, Bradford experienced difficult jail conditions, including extended lockdowns, overcrowding and an assault that left him hospitalized after being stabbed in the face.

His lawyer said Bradford had participated in rehabilitation programs while incarcerated and had arranged to continue treatment at the Northway Wellness Centre following his release. Bradford also expressed remorse before the court, apologizing to the community, law enforcement and the justice system for his actions.

He acknowledged that years of criminal behaviour and addiction had harmed both himself and others and said he was committed to changing his life.

Justice Varpio accepted a joint sentencing recommendation from the Crown and defence, imposing a sentence of 701 days already served plus one additional day, along with 18 months of probation. After applying enhanced credit for pre-sentence custody, the total sentence amounted to 1,052 days, just short of three years.

The court also ordered Bradford to provide a DNA sample for the national database and imposed a lifetime prohibition preventing him from possessing firearms or other prohibited weapons.

The case also drew attention to questions surrounding the storage of the RCMP officer’s firearm. Court evidence confirmed that a secure lockbox designed specifically for transporting service weapons was available inside the vehicle but was not used.

Local police confirmed they reviewed the circumstances surrounding the officer’s handling of the firearm but did not lay any criminal charges. Officials stated that every investigation is assessed individually and that charges are only pursued when supported by the available evidence.

Public safety experts noted that while the firearm was ultimately recovered without being used in another crime, the incident demonstrated the potentially serious consequences that can result when police service weapons are not properly secured.

The successful recovery of the handgun prevented what authorities acknowledged could have become a far more dangerous situation, while the court’s sentence underscored the seriousness of possessing a stolen loaded firearm and the significant risks such offences pose to communities.

Courtesy: sootoday