Board of Police Commissioners to hold special meeting Thursday to address concerns about viral police arrest video

The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners will be holding a special meeting Thursday, July 9, after at least nine letters were sent to the City regarding concern over the arrest of Evan Penner.

The Board was not scheduled to meet until late summer.

Saskatoon police say they responded to a call about a suspicious person in the 500 block of 11th Ave. E. last Saturday. According to the man who recorded a video of Penner’s arrest, someone had called police about a man using a hose to wash himself or cool himself down outside of an apartment building.

Neighbour Frank Collins recorded two videos of Penner’s arrest, including a six-and-a-half minute video released by Saskatoon advocacy group Indigenous Joint Action Coalition and Black Lives Matter YXE to YouTube.

The video shows police sitting on Penner and telling him to “stop resisting,” as Penner cries out and appears to attempt to reach behind him towards the officer. Penner was punched, pepper sprayed and tasered before more than half a dozen officers arrested him.

Penner has been charged with mischief, disarming a peace officer, assaulting a police officer and possession of a controlled substance. He is expected back in court Aug. 18. The Saskatoon Police Association alleges that Penner was the subject of at least two calls to police that day.

The letters to the Board of Police Commissioners outline concerns with regards to Penner’s arrest, and call for disciplinary measures for not only the initial responding officer but all of the officers involved in the arrest – including one from resident Kirby Bridgen.

“I would like to know if these officers are still on the street, and if so, I call for some form of punishment, be it suspension or dismissal from the service. We will not stand for such treatment by a service that is meant to protect citizens, especially when such awful treatment is disproportionately directed towards Indigenous people and people of colour in our community. Change is necessary, and necessary immediately.”

Several, like the letter from Ann Foster, also call for a review of police procedures and demand that money from the Saskatoon Police Service budget be redirected to additional community based mental health and addictions resources.

“… I demand that we start providing more support towards community efforts and organizations supporting anti-racism work and mental health outside of the police forces.”

650 CKOM has contacted several members of the Board of Police Commissioners requesting interviews, including Mayor Charlie Clark, Chief Troy Cooper, and Commission Chair Darlene Brander.