Curtis Dagenais, the individual responsible for the deaths of two Saskatchewan RCMP officers and the injury of another two decades ago, is facing a court hearing in Saskatoon regarding the fate of his truck. The 1986 blue GMC 1500, which is currently stored at RCMP headquarters in Regina, is the subject of a forfeiture application by the Crown seeking its destruction. Dagenais, however, is contesting the forfeiture.
The tragic incident occurred on July 6, 2006, when Dagenais was involved in a confrontation with three RCMP constables in Spiritwood. Following a pursuit, Dagenais’s truck was cornered by the officers, leading to a fatal altercation where two constables lost their lives and another was injured. Dagenais was subsequently convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in 2009.
The issue surrounding the truck’s forfeiture has resurfaced in court recently, prompting questions as to why the application was not pursued earlier. The Crown prosecutor, Scott Bartlett, explained that the matter was overlooked previously. Dagenais, who maintains his innocence and believes that evidence from the bullet-ridden truck could support his claims, has sought assistance from Innocence Canada.
After a previous adjournment to allow Dagenais time to explore legal representation, the forfeiture hearing is set to proceed on August 31. Despite efforts by Dagenais to oppose the forfeiture and seek potential exoneration, the legal proceedings continue to unfold as the court deliberates on the fate of the truck at the center of this tragic case.
