Black Lives Matter YXE raising concerns about video of police arrest

Black Lives Matter YXE is raising concerns about a video that shows Saskatoon police trying to subdue a man using punches and a taser.

The group posted the video on its Facebook page Monday morning, linking to a YouTube account named “Justice for Evan Penner.”

WARNING: The video contains graphic content and language.

Black Lives Matter YXE claims the police were supposed to be doing a mental health check on the man who is being arrested in the video, Evan Penner.

The group criticized police for repeatedly punching Penner, and for escalating the situation. The Facebook post calls for the eight officers involved in the arrest to be fired, and for the “abolition” of the police.

The video begins with a Saskatoon police officer sitting on top of Penner, attempting to arrest him. Penner is partially obstructed by bushes from the camera’s perspective, but his legs can be seen kicking up in the air. Penner gets to his knees and tries to free himself from the officer, at which point the officer delivers several punches while saying “stop resisting.”

The man in the video responds by saying “I’m not even doing anything.”

As the arrest attempt goes on, Penner reaches up several times. At one point the officer yells for Penner to stop grabbing at his radio.

After several minutes of the officer trying to pin Penner down and delivering more punches, more officers arrive on the scene. At one point an officer yells “taser” several times before a pop can be heard. A short time later there are seven officers surrounding the man, and more punches appear to be delivered.

After Penner is handcuffed, the police officers begin to relax and the first officer is heard telling the others how Penner attempted to grab his belt.

Saskatoon police respond

Late Monday afternoon, Saskatoon police issued a release saying the officer involved has been placed on leave until an initial review of his response and the use of force can be completed.

The release also indicates that not all of the interaction is recorded on the posted video, but use of force is captured. During the arrest and following a several minute struggle with the first responding officer, the arrested subject sustained a non-life-threatening injury to his face.

The release goes on to say the Saskatoon Police Service is treating this as a critical and serious incident. Chief (Troy) Cooper has confirmed that the Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission will be responsible for an independent investigation and has spoken to the Ministry of Justice and also the Ministry of Corrections and Policing about ensuring there is appropriate oversight.

The release states, the effects of addictions and related mental health issues were present during this incident and this will form part of the investigation as well.

“I recognize this incident was a traumatic event for our community, for those involved and for those who witnessed it,” said Chief Cooper. “Whenever force is used, we are accountable and I want to ensure the public that this is being taken seriously and we will do our utmost to be open and transparent as the investigation unfolds.”

The initial reports

In the initial release sent by police Saturday, police say officers were called to the 500 block of 11th Street East at around 2 p.m. for a call of a suspicious person, not a mental wellness check. When they arrived they found a man who had allegedly caused property damage.

The release said when the officer tried to take the man into custody, he resisted and attempted to disarm the officer.

Police say the officer used his pepper spray but it wasn’t effective, and the men struggled for several minutes before other officers arrived.

The man was also Tasered, but that too did not stop him. Officers were eventually able to get the man under control and took him into custody.

The man faces charges of assaulting a police officer, disarming a peace officer, mischief and possession of a controlled substance.

In their Facebook post, Black Lives Matter YXE disputes the police description of the arrest.

The mayor responds

Mayor Charlie Clark also issued a release late Monday afternoon. In it he says that he has seen the video showing the minutes before and after the arrest of Evan Penner.

He says, “What we see in the video raises real concerns for me and I understand very much how they raise real concerns for Mr. Penner, his family and the community.”

“Those concerns relate both to how force has been used by police, and also because it emphasizes the ongoing challenges that we have been talking about for some time about the need for responders, other than police, to attend situations where addictions or mental health issues are at the core. That is the very dynamic that we, at the Board of Police Commissioners, asked for further investigation and reporting at our last meeting,” said Clark.

Clark says, “This is a moment where we need to ensure there is due process. We need to ensure there is an investigative process that Mr. Penner and the community has confidence in. The call for strengthened independent oversight is a specific request also made by the Board of Police Commissioners at our last meeting.”

Clark also says there is a need to openly and honestly review the dynamics of police training, de-escalation and use of force – particularly with Black, Indigenous and People of Colour – to ensure that the public has confidence in the system, and must be prepared to address the difficult underlying questions this raises.

“I will also continue to advocate for police not being the only responders at calls related to mental health and addictions, and instead ensure there are resources and supports in place as part of a coordinated continuum of care. This requires the provincial government to work with us,” said Clark.