SPPD Announces Civilian Review Board Deliberations Regarding Skyway Arrest of Christopher Lollie

DATE November 14,2014

On January 31, 2014 Christopher Lollie was arrested at the First National Bank Building at 331 Minnesota Street in Saint Paul. The Saint Paul City Attorney’s Office charged Mr. Lollie with Trespassing, Disorderly Conduct and Obstructing Legal Process. These charges were later dropped.

 

 The video of the arrest went viral in July, 2014. Allegations of improper procedure and excessive force were made against the three officers who arrested Mr. Lollie. A formal Internal Affairs investigation was initiated.

 

Once the investigation was completed and all the facts were gathered, this file was reviewed by the Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission (PCIARC).    

 

 The PCIARC is composed of five community members and two police officers who are appointed by Mayor Christopher Coleman with the approval of the City Council. The members reflect the diversity of Saint Paul residents. This Commission reviews all citizen complaints and any other complaint referred to it by the Mayor or Chief of Police.

 The PCIARC members looked at all facts of this investigation and after deliberation, they came back with findings of “exonerated” on the allegations of improper procedure and excessive use of force. Chief Thomas Smith supports those findings.    

 

Today, Chief Smith commented, “The I.A. investigators worked slowly but deliberately. We wanted this process to be transparent to everyone – to Mr. Lollie, to the police officers involved and to the citizens of Saint Paul whom we serve.”

 

Review board chair Gilbert de la O stated, “The PCIARC, through their deliberations, asked a lot of hard questions. They watched the entire video of the arrest several times.” Mr. de la O visited the location of the arrest to become familiar with the logistics and the sequence of events. The commissioners voted to exonerate the officers.  

 

Tyrone Terrill is the president of the Saint Paul-based African American Leadership Council, a partner of the NAACP and the Black Ministerial Alliance. He said, “Although we have concerns about this process and the findings, we do not want that to circumvent the great work we have accomplished with Chief Smith and the Saint Paul Police Department – and the exceptional relationships we have developed. Together, we have been working with youth violence reduction and programs like Ambassador program. We will continue to work together.”