A Camrose dentist, who alleges an Alberta sheriff assaulted her during a routine traffic stop last year, has launched a formal plea to see charges laid against him.

Simona Tibu represented herself during a hearing in a Wetaskwin court Jan. 30 to present her case to a judge regarding the alleged Aug. 3 assault she says began with a traffic stop.

Tibu said she was driving to her office in Edmonton from her Camrose home when she was pulled over for speeding.

She claims that when the sheriff approached, he violently hit the driver’s side window of her car, adding that she refused to produce her documents if he continued to hit her vehicle.

When she told the officer she would begin filming him on her phone if he continued, “he became violent,” she said.

He ordered her to stand next to her car, where she says he allegedly began to hit her in the breasts and push his groin into her backside.

Tibu began to scream, hoping to draw attention to the alleged assault, which only made the sheriff “even more aggressive.”

She says he then smashed her head onto the pavement, covering her in blood.

Tibu herself was charged with assault and resisting arrest just two weeks after the assault, but RCMP have yet to accuse any wrong doing against the sheriff.

In the Jan. 30 hearing, Tibu says the judge told her she has reasonable grounds for charges, but Alberta Justice says the Crown will intervene and ultimately make the final call on March 13 if there is indeed enough evidence to move forward.

“They determine if the case moves forward, if there will be charges, if they’ll be dismissed or stayed,” said Alberta Justice spokeswoman Michelle Davio.

Tibu is also petitioning the court to allow the public and media access to her evidence file, including dash camera footage, the 9-1-1 call recording and witness statements. That hearing will take place April 9.

Meanwhile, six months after the alleged assault, Tibu says she’s still struggling.

She’s had to reduce her workload at her dental practice to part time. She says back issues have made working long hours to difficult, and the sight of a police car sends her into a “panic attack.”

“I have big medical records, lots of pictures and three witnesses that came forward to help me, therefore I am confident I will get justice,” she said.

allison.salz@sunmedia.ca

@SUNAllisonSalz