A Hamilton man who says he was falsely arrested and imprisoned after a police constable had a gun planted in his home has filed a $1.5-million lawsuit against the officer, the Hamilton Police Service and former police chief Glenn De Caire.

Darren Mork, 30, had his lawyer file a statement of claim against the three parties on Monday afternoon at Hamilton's John Sopinka Courthouse.

The claim says the parties' negligence has caused Mork to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, anger, irritability, and disturbed sleep resulting in stress and fatigue. He now distrusts those in uniform and has "sustained serious and permanent psychological injuries and impairments … into the foreseeable future," it adds.

The allegations have not yet been heard in court.

Robert Hansen, a 12-year constable with Hamilton police's gangs and weapons enforcement unit, was convicted in January of perjury and obstructing justice after he encouraged an informant to plant a gun at a suspected drug trafficker's home in 2012, and lying to secure a search warrant.

Hansen, 41, was sentenced in June to five years in prison. He resigned from the police service last month.

Mork is asking for $1 million in damages — and $250,000 each for special damages and punitive damages — for deliberate false arrest and imprisonment resulting in his lost enjoyment of life and forcing him to live in undisclosed locations "for fear of retaliation from various organizations or groups."

His lawyer Nick Cake of London, Ont., told the Spectator his client has had to move out of Hamilton and out of province after having his life "ripped apart" by Hansen's actions.

Cake said Mork felt that continuing to live at home with his parents in Hamilton would put them in danger. "He's lost that close knit bond with his mother and father after all of those false allegations."

Cake said Mork was born in Cambodia and moved to Hamilton at a young age but because he has had to move, "he's lost the ability to lay down roots."

He also said Mork's immigrant parents and a younger sister were subjected to a police search of their house when Mork had in fact done nothing wrong.

Cake called Hansen's and the police's actions a shock to the community and a "complete violation of everything a police officer is supposed to stand for."

The statement of claim states that prior to Hansen's "malice" and "negligent" breach of duty, Mork enjoyed a close relationship with his immediate family.

It claims Hansen abused public trust; used his position of authority to further his own personal agenda; maliciously counselled the informant to commit a criminal offence; deliberately placed Mork in danger; and was deliberately reckless. It also alleges Hansen was incompetent and lacked the reasonable care, skill, ability and training necessary to perform his duties.

The claim states although a gun was never found, Mork suffered a lengthy detention and after a police strip-search, was supposedly "discovered" to have cocaine on him and was arrested for possession. The Crown withdrew the charges in August 2012, the statement adds.

The lawsuit alleges the police services board is liable for wrongs committed by its employees and De Caire is liable because he was responsible for supervising and properly training his officers. It alleges the board and De Caire also failed to address previous complaints about Hansen.

Mork could not be reached for comment.

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Hansen's lawyer Bernard Cummins did not return the Spectator's calls and email seeking comment.

Hamilton Police Services Board chair Lloyd Ferguson and the service's corporate communicator Catherine Martin both said they cannot comment because the matter is now before the courts. Ferguson said the board will vigorously defend the lawsuit.