Sudbury

Sudbury Police Constable Chris Labreche charged with assault

Hearing held Monday in front of Justice of the Peace resulted in an assault charge against Sudbury Police Constable Chris Labreche.

Altercation in cells

10 years ago
Duration 1:46
Cameras in the Sudbury Police station caught this on tape during an arrest last June. Tanner Currie is now taking the police to court, claiming excessive force

A Sudbury court has issued the paperwork charging Sudbury Police Constable Christopher Labreche with assault.

Labreche is charged in connection with an incident last spring involving Tanner Currie of Sudbury, who alleges the officer used excessive force against him.

Tanner Currie, who was 20 at the time, had been arrested for public intoxication and resisting arrest. Those charges were later dropped. Currie was brought into Sudbury Police headquarters and thrown by Labreche, face first, into a police cell window, smashing the glass. The incident was caught on two police video tapes.

Video footage capturing the incident was released to the public last month.

Sudbury police Const. Christopher Labreche appeared in a Greater Sudbury Police Service 2014 promotional video. (GSPS/YouTube)
At that time, Sudbury Police officials said the service had already conducted an internal investigation and cleared Labreche of any wrongdoing.

The matter was reviewed by a justice of the peace Monday at the Sudbury courthouse in a hearing that was closed to the public.

Tanner Currie alleges Const. Christopher Labreche used excessive force against him. (Yvon Theriault/Radio-Canada)
​Currie told CBC News he's relieved to know Sudbury Constable Christable Labreche is being charged.

"It's just been a lot on my shoulders for a while," he said. "And finally they've decided to go through with this."

Currie's mother, Tina, said she had her doubts about today's hearing, particularly after the police service cleared Labreche of any wrongdoing.

"I had kind of lost faith in the system," she said. "And it's been restored, totally."

Currie's lawyer, Trent Falldien, said he just wants justice.

"I'm very pleased that we did see access to justice and I think that reflects well on the credibility of our courts," he said.

Sudbury Police have no comment at this time, but did issue a written statement.

"As a police organization, we remain committed and accountable to our members and our community. We pride ourselves as being open and transparent, and will continue to co-operate with all systems of legislative oversight as the complete facts in issue are gathered for presentation at a judicial hearing."