REGINA – Once a promising First Nations activist and aspiring politician, Brendan Cross is now behind bars accused of a bizarre and violent spree involving a naked dash through the streets of Regina and a struggle with staff at City Hall.
A dishevelled Cross appeared in a Regina courtroom on Wednesday morning dressed in a bathrobe and hospital smock to face two charges of assault – one against a commissionaire, one against a mayor’s office staffer – as well as charges of threatening, being unlawfully in a dwelling house and indecent exposure.
Asked whether he had read his charges, Cross said, "I have looked at a piece of paper," but repeatedly asserted that he had not -and could not – be charged.
"I haven’t been able to make a phone call using my voice," he told Judge Dennis Fenwick.
Cross said he wanted to call someone in Montreal, and the case was adjourned until Friday morning. He will remain in custody until that time.
Outside court, one of Cross’s friends spoke to reporters, saying Cross needs help to deal with his mental health issues.
"My heart goes out to Brendan," Joey Reynolds said.
Reynolds recalled seeing Cross at a federal government building in downtown Regina on Monday wearing only a bathrobe. He said he heard Cross recently had been in a psychiatric hospital.
"They let him out too early," he said.
Reynolds described Cross as an articulate and intelligent person, and said he is proud to be his friend.
The episode began shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday, when a half-naked man entered a Regina apartment. The man fled the building and was seen running down 13th Avenue fully nude, wearing only a pair of eyeglasses.
He briefly entered the YMCA then sprinted to City Hall, where he yelled at a clerk and ran into an open elevator, heading to Mayor Pat Fiacco’s office on the 15th floor.
Commissionaires Saskatchewan CEO Cliff Walker said the naked man was pursued upstairs by a commissionaire and two bylaw officers, who cornered him in the mayor’s office.
Walker said the suspect lunged at commissionaire Herve Millette and put him in a chokehold, but Millette was able to break free and hold the suspect’s arm behind his back. One of the bylaw officers then restrained the suspect further by holding the man’s other arm behind his back as well.
"They held the guy there like that – unfortunately, stark naked – for almost 10 minutes before the police arrived," Walker said.
Walker said the commissionaire, an ex-RCMP officer, reacted in a "wonderful fashion" and was able to use his training to make sure there was no further damage and no one was injured.
"We’re very proud of Herve and I think city hall is quite pleased with his reaction," Walker said. "The important thing is, this guy obviously has got some problems, and nobody got hurt."
Cross has a history of exhibitionist behaviour, with three previous convictions for indecent exposure and one previous conviction for committing an indecent act in a public place.
The 34-year-old was once a promising young politician, who started a First Nations political party and gained considerable attention with his efforts as an activist. He later disbanded the political party and ultimately served time in jail one of his indecent exposure charges.
With files from Joe Couture
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