Crown biased towards Sudbury police officer charged with assault, victim says

Tanner Currie is asking the court for his own legal representation after he says the Crown showed bias in favour of the Greater Sudbury police officer charged with assaulting him.

The Sudbury, Ont., man is shown in a video, recorded on police cameras last year, showing Const. Christopher Labreche throwing Currie, face first, into a police station window, smashing the glass.

Labreche was charged with assault in January but before that case is heard, the court must decide who will represent Currie.

• Tanner Currie alleges excessive force used while in Sudbury police custody
• Sudbury police misconduct allegation: Tanner Currie pursues review
• Sudbury Police Constable Chris Labreche charged with assault

Lawyer Trent Falliden filed the charges against Labreche last year and argued successfully to have the case heard.

Then, following standard court procedure, the case was assigned to the Crown to pursue the charges in court.

Now Falldien is accusing the Crown of bias in favour of Labreche.  Court documents show three areas of concern, including a claim that the Crown has "not taken action to secure the safety" of Tanner Currie. 

The court will decide June 5 whether Falliden is back on the case.  Meanwhile, Labreche's next court date is on the assault charge is June 10.

Labreche remains on active duty with the Greater Sudbury police.