Change in relationship between gangs lead to Correctional Centre lockdown

On Monday the Saskatoon Correctional Centre was locked down after fights broke out between two gangs.

The fighting between the West Side Outlaws and the Indian Posse happened in a unit and in the yard.

Drew Wilby, with the Ministry of Corrections and Policing said these two gangs have gotten along historically, but something changed very recently.

“Something happened, something changed. We’re not sure what that is, but our intelligence suggests there was a change, so that’s created these issues this week,” said Wilby.

Wilby also says, whatever happened to cause the change in relationship between the two – it happened on the outside. “Something happens in the street and a notice is sent into the facility, and then all of a sudden you have these incidents arising.”

As a result the jail is having to move 40 per cent of it’s population of 400 to other areas within the facility to keep the gangs away from each other.

Wilby said they have had to call in extra staff to help move things around in the correctional centre to prepare for the reorganization of the inmates.

On Aug. 22, 18-year-old Brent Checkosis was stabbed and had to be rushed to hospital. He was in the correctional centre after being charged with accessory to murder after the fact, improperly interfering with a human body and theft in the Tiki Laverdiere murder.

Wilby said there is no indication the stabbing and the recent gang fights are related, but they will rely on the police investigations to make that determination.

He also said he doesn’t have any intelligence as to whether any of the gang members involved in the fight have connections to the Tiki Laverdiere murder, but anything is possible as the investigation is ongoing.

“At this point in time, that would be up to the police to determine. We don’t have any intelligence to suggest that would be the case, however, I wouldn’t rule it out,” said Wilby.

Earlier this week, 650 CKOM spoke with Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union (SGEU) president, Bob Bymoen, who said overcrowding and under-staffing in the correctional centre is a problem the province needs to address.

Bymoen said the gang activity in the jails makes the situation even worse. “The intelligence and effectiveness of the gangs keeps getting stronger and stronger, and they need to deal with it inside these centres.”