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 battle in Saskatoon over the fate of his 1986 blue GMC 1500 truck. The Crown is seeking to have the truck forfeited and destroyed, but Dagenais is contesting this decision.
The fatal incident occurred on July 6, 2006, when Dagenais, evading arrest by three RCMP constables in Spiritwood, engaged in a high-speed chase that ended with a violent confrontation. The officers, Marc Bourdages and Robin Cameron, were fatally shot by Dagenais after their vehicle collided with his truck and pinned it against a tree. Another officer, Michelle Knopp, was also shot but survived.
In 2009, Dagenais was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, receiving three life sentences without parole for 25 years. Despite his appeal being dismissed by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal in 2012, the issue of his truck’s forfeiture has resurfaced in court.
The Crown’s recent application for forfeiture, initially overlooked, was revived in 2021. Dagenais, maintaining his innocence, expressed reluctance to have the truck destroyed as he believes the bullet holes in it could serve as evidence in his favor. The court granted an adjournment to allow Dagenais time to seek legal representation, delaying the forfeiture hearing until August 31.
In a recent hearing, Justice Daryl Labach presided as Dagenais, appearing via video conference from prison, reiterated his opposition to the truck’s destruction. Despite efforts to involve Innocence Canada in his defense, the organization declined to represent him. Labach granted Dagenais another adjournment to secure legal counsel, emphasizing that his chance to appeal lies with the minister of justice.