A young man whose neck still aches from an incident in the Sudbury police station in June is pleased his allegations of police brutality have been taken seriously.

"I’m very satisfied," Tanner Currie, 21, said Tuesday. "I’m really happy this didn’t get overlooked and thrown under the mat."

Const. Christopher Labreche, shown allegedly driving Currie’s face into a window in a video captured inside the downtown precinct on June 8, was charged with assault on Jan. 26 following a judicial hearing at the Sudbury Courthouse.

An internal review by the police service had earlier cleared the officer of any wrongdoing, deeming the use of force to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Currie said the decision of the court justice to pursue an assault case has helped restore his confidence in the judicial system, although his faith in the police remains shattered.

"I have no trust in police officers," he said.

The mere sight of a police cruiser now makes him uncomfortable, Currie said, and were he to need assistance at some point, he would think twice about turning to a person in a uniform.

"If I’m out on the street and get in trouble, am I going to run to the Sudbury police right now?" he asked. "I don’t think so. I really don’t feel safe."

An initial court date of March 11 has been set for Labreche to answer to the assault charge. In the meantime, he remains on active duty with the police service.

"As of right now nothing’s happened," said Currie. "I assumed he would be suspended, but I guess he’s still on the force."

Ultimately, Currie would like to see the officer lose his badge. "I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, and honestly, I would really like to see him no longer be a police officer," he said.

Currie presumes he will be testifying at the trial, at which the Crown will act as prosecutor, and is prepared to be cross-examined by the defence.

"I’m not too nervous — just a little bit anxious," he said. "March 11 is coming quick but there’s not much preparing I have to do. I just have to tell the story, and hopefully we can progress from there."

The footage taken inside the police station already speaks volumes, he reasoned.

"In my opinion, the video alone is concrete evidence to convict the officer of assault, but that’s not for me to say," said Currie.

The Val Therese man was taken into custody on June 8 after a skirmish outside a downtown nightclub. He said he wasn’t involved in the fracas, but was accused of public intoxication and resisting arrest.

Once inside the police station, Currie said he was having cuffs removed when Labreche allegedly grabbed him and threw him into a window.

Currie was 20 at the time and weighed about 140 pounds, considerably less than the burly policeman. His head struck the window with enough force that the pane of glass, webbed with wire, was broken.

He was plagued with neck issues for weeks afterward, and still struggles with pain today, visiting a chiropractor weekly. He suspects he has a problem with his hyoid — a bone in the neck — and will be visiting an ear, nose and throat specialist soon to try to get to the bottom of his discomfort.

Currie and his lawyer have considered a civil action against the constable, but at this point the focus is on the criminal case.

"We want to prosecute the police officer, and that is our only goal at the moment," said Currie. "Once the criminal case is done, then we might be looking at a civil suit."

Meanwhile Currie is working full-time at an electronics store and avoiding the downtown club scene.

"I go to work, I come home," he said. "My friends come hang out with me here, so it’s not bad, but I don’t go out anymore. Why would I put myself in a situation where I don’t want to be?"

jim.moodie@sunmedia.ca