Two more of Canada's finest lost

[rafterman]

RCMP mourns deaths of 2 Mounties shot in Sask.

Last Updated Sun, 16 Jul 2006 12:16:55 EDT
CBC News
Two RCMP constables who were shot more than a week earlier in central Saskatchewan have both died, an RCMP spokesman confirmed Sunday, saying their sacrifices would "never be forgotten."

Const. Robin Cameron, 29, and Const. Marc Bourdages, 26, were shot on July 7 while chasing a domestic violence suspect near Spiritwood, Sask. (RCMP) Const. Marc Bourdages, 26, and Const. Robin Cameron, 29, had been in critical condition in a Saskatoon hospital since the shooting on July 7 near the farming community of Mildred, about 140 kilometres west of Prince Albert.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Brian Jones confirmed the deaths in a news conference in Saskatoon Sunday.

"We're all tremendously saddened by today's news," he said. "Mark and Robin were much loved.

"The sacrifice that both Robin and Mark have made in the line of duty will never be forgotten."

Curtis Alfred Dagenais, 41, has been charged with attempted murder for shots fired at a third RCMP officer at the scene, who returned fire. He is believed to be armed and dangerous.

Both officers leave children

The slain officers were both stationed at the RCMP detachment in Spiritwood, about 10 kilometres west of Mildred.

Cameron was a single mother with an 11-year-old girl. Earlier in the week, members of Cameron's family said they were grief-stricken that they may not have told her enough how proud they were for her successes, despite a turbulent childhood.

A member of the Beardy's and Okemis First Nation north of Saskatoon, Cameron was sent away to residential school as a child and dropped out of high school when she became pregnant. However, she was determined to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an RCMP officer, returning to school and even getting eye surgery to qualify for the force. She had been with the force for five years.

Bourdages was originally from Saint-Eustache, Que. He was married to another RCMP officer at Spiritwood and they had a nine-month-old boy. He had been with the force for 5½ years.

Started with dispute between Dagenais, mother

The tragedy was sparked by a disagreement on the night of July 7 between Dagenais and his mother and sister at a home in Spiritwood.

Curtis Dagenais's mother, Elsie Dagenais, and other family members have alleged that the family dispute stemmed from a three-year divorce battle between her and the suspect's father, Arthur Dagenais, after decades of domestic abuse, including a property settlement.

Herb Jaster, the suspect's uncle on his mother's side, has said that on July 7, Curtis Dagenais found out that his mother was to be awarded half of the family farm in a divorce property settlement. He went to her house to confront his mother and sister, since he was expecting to get the farm for himself, Jaster said.

The argument escalated, police were called and Curtis Dagenais left in his truck.

Police gave chase, ending in the shooting near Mildred.

A massive police search was launched for the suspect but it was scaled back on July 13.

Suspect's father denied bail

Meanwhile, the suspect's father was denied bail on July 14 by a judge in North Battleford, Sask., who ruled his release would be a risk to public safety.

Judge Violet Meekma said Arthur Dagenais, 69, should not be released on bail because he has a history of animosity towards police. He was charged with obstruction of justice earlier in the week after returning to his farm, which police had ordered him to stay away from while they were searching for his son.

His next court appearance is July 26.

Sad news from Saskatchewan.

 

[gravitas]

simply tragic

 

[westwoody]

Hopefully Dagenais has killed himself. His father should get it as well, for trying to aid his son after the fact.

 

[Moderator]

simply tragic

Can't say anymore that that other than We should keep this at the top for a while.

 

[Rod Steel]

Its more than awful. Far too many cops getting killed in this country lately.

 

[ms.belair]

Let's think lots about the kids and spouses left behind, and the parents of these mounties. They all knew the chance was being taken, it was a gamble, and it's a damn shame for some creep to be the perp.,. damn him? Dagenais is already damned.

 

[Hardatwork]

It's good to see that on top of all the other charges he's facing Curtis Dagenais was also charged with possession of an unregistered .22 calibre rifle... good to see the gun registery was good for something

But that's probably a discussion for another thread.

My sympathies goes out to the families of Const. Robin Cameron and Const. Marc Bourdages. My sympathies also goes out to the mother of Curtis Dagenais who sounds like she's been put through the wringer by this asshat and his father.

Rest in peace...

 

[schizo_man]

By Sun Staff



#
Letter full of blame

Alleged Mountie-killer Curt Dagenais has turned himself into police, says a Sun source.

“I’d like to think it was as a result of your article,” said the source, who is familiar with the investigation.

The Sun today published a letter from a writer claiming to be Dagenais in which he blamed police and his family for the police shooting, July 7, near Spiritwood, Sask.

The source said Dagenais turned himself in peacefully at the Spiritwood Mountie detachment at about 4 p.m.

source edmonton sun