A criminal charge laid by Ontario’s police watchdog against a veteran London police officer was withdrawn Tuesday, leaving six other city officers still facing charges.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) had charged Const. Omar Hassan with assault causing bodily harm in August. The charge was laid after a 60-year-old man was injured in custody on May 12.

The Crown withdrew the charge against Hassan, 48, at a scheduled court appearance Tuesday, defence lawyer Glen Donald confirmed to The Free Press.

London lawyer Faisal Joseph, who previously represented Hassan in a $1-million lawsuit against London police, spoke with Hassan Tuesday and said his former client is relieved by the outcome.

“It’s unfortunate that he had to withstand the negative publicity by simply being charged, as that was very stressful for him, his family and his friends,” Joseph said.

“But, obviously, it was the right outcome. I just wish it was in a more timely manner.”

Hassan, a 20-year veteran, is one of eight London police officers to be criminally charged since April. He is on leave from the force, a police spokesperson said.

In 2009, Hassan launched a ­lawsuit against the police board and six officers, claiming he was the victim of racial profiling that led to an internal probe, fuelling rumours and suspicions he associated with a man linked to organized crime.

Hassan was leaving a hotel on Dec. 31, 2008, when he ran into three officers responding to a noise complaint, according to his statement of claim filed at the time.

A hotel clerk told a responding officer about a suspicious guest who was often visited by another man, both of Middle Eastern descent. One officer linked Hassan, who was born in Pakistan, to the hotel guest, a man with ties to organized crime, leading police to launch an internal probe, the claim said.

Though the investigation eventually found Hassan didn’t match the description of the hotel guest, his lawsuit sought changes in police training, policy and procedures. The case was settled out of court.

Four of the charges against the eight London officers have been laid by the SIU, the arm’s-length agency responsible for probing civilian death or serious injury involving police and allegations of sexual assault against officers.

Hassan was the third officer charged by the SIU this year to have their charge withdrawn.

In May, the SIU charged Const. Theresa Clayton with assault causing bodily harm and Const. Jeff Lake with assault in a June 16, 2016, arrest of Robbie Cammick.

Citing no reasonable prospect of a conviction, the Crown withdrew the charges in July. Cammick is proceeding with a civil suit against police, his lawyer has said.

Joseph said Hassan never should have been charged.

“In both of our views, the charge should have never been laid, but I understand in today’s day and age, with police officers, that transparency is important, and the system has worked the way it was supposed to,” he said.

With files by Jane Sims, The London Free Press

dcarruthers@postmedia.com