Police board calls special meeting to discuss arrest video

The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners will hold a special meeting today to discuss a widely shared video showing Saskatoon police officers punching 27-yearold Evan Penner while arresting him.

The board will not investigate the incident; the Saskatoon Police Service says that will be done by the province’s Public Complaints Commission.

“However, in its strategic role to provide oversight to the Saskatoon Police Service, the Board of Police Commissioners is interested in learning more about the incident that occurred, so that they can better understand the situation, the environment in which it took place, and the steps the Service will take moving forward to review use of force and overall response while ensuring public safety,” the board said in a media release.

The media release came as Penner’s family said they had not heard from him since Monday and were concerned about his well being.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations issued a release Wednesday morning to say Penner had been located.

“He is physically healing and his family is working on ensuring his mental health and well-being are also taken care of,” the FSIN said in the release.

The FSIN said it is working to arrange a media conference with Chief Bobby Cameron and members of Penner’s family for an unspecified time later this week.

A nearly seven-minute-long video of Penner’s July 4 arrest was published online Monday. It shows a Saskatoon police officer attempting to take Penner into custody, straddling him and striking him several times while Penner struggles and cries out. In the video, other police officers arrive and Penner is struck by Taser fire before he is subdued.

Penner was charged with assaulting a police officer, disarming a peace officer, mischief and possession of a controlled substance. He appeared in Saskatoon provincial court on Monday.

Eleanore Sunchild, a lawyer representing Penner, said Monday that Penner was doing well, all things considered, but suffered injuries to his face and arm.

Saskatoon police said in a statement issued on Monday that an officer involved in Penner’s arrest has been placed on leave and that the Public Complaints Commission will be conducting an investigation into the incident.

Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (306) 933-6200.