Curtis Dagenais, the perpetrator of a tragic incident where two Saskatchewan RCMP officers lost their lives and another was injured, is set to appear in court in Saskatoon later this month over a matter concerning his vehicle. The Crown is seeking to have Dagenais’s 1986 blue GMC 1500 truck, currently stored at RCMP headquarters in Regina, forfeited and destroyed. However, Dagenais is contesting this action.
The incident occurred on July 6, 2006, when Dagenais, evading arrest by three RCMP constables in Spiritwood, drove off in his truck. During the pursuit, RCMP constables Marc Bourdages and Robin Cameron were fatally shot by Dagenais after their vehicle collided with his truck and pinned it against a tree. Another constable, Michelle Knopp, arrived shortly after and was also shot and wounded by Dagenais.
Dagenais was convicted in 2009 of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Despite an unsuccessful appeal in 2012, he continues to maintain his innocence. Recently, the issue of the truck’s forfeiture resurfaced in court, with Dagenais arguing that the bullet holes in the vehicle could potentially support his claims of innocence.
The Crown, represented by Scott Bartlett, reinitiated the forfeiture application in 2021 after it had previously been overlooked. Dagenais expressed his desire to preserve the truck, citing the importance of physically examining the bullet holes as evidence. However, Innocence Canada, an organization he sought assistance from, declined to represent him in the matter.
During a hearing in June 2022, Dagenais, now 61, represented himself and reiterated his opposition to the forfeiture and destruction of his truck. Although the court granted him another adjournment to seek legal representation, the forfeiture hearing is scheduled to proceed on August 31.
The ongoing legal battle over the fate of Dagenais’s truck underscores the complex and enduring nature of this tragic case.
