Suspect In Mounties’ Shooting Still At Large

A suspect wanted in the shooting of two Mounties is still at large.

Police are looking for 41-year-old Curtis Dagenais after two Saskatchewan RCMP officers were felled by bullets while investigating an alleged domestic dispute near the town of Spiritwood.

A suspect in the case took off in a pickup truck, and was followed by two police cars – Constables Robin Cameron and Marc Bourdages in one, a third female officer in another. After the two Mounties were fired on, the third officer reported that her colleagues had been shot and returned fire.

Authorities say Dagenais took off on foot after the confrontation and is believed to be in the Prince Albert area. He’s considered armed and dangerous.

Cameron, 29, and Bourdages, 26, are still in a Saskatoon hospital in serious condition. Their cruiser, marked with three bullet holes near the windshield, was towed from the spot where the shooting occurred.

“Their condition remains serious at this time,” said RCMP Sgt. Brian Jones.

“Beyond that I couldn’t tell you any more, but they are receiving excellent care and they are surrounded by family members.”

Cameron has an 11-year-old daughter, while Bourdages is married to a fellow officer in the Spiritwood detachment and has a nine-month-old son.

The rural area Dagenais is believed to have entered is filled with heavy brush and could make it difficult for officers to find him.

“It’s isolated and there is ample opportunity if he so wishes to make it difficult for himself to be found,” Jones said.

“Anytime we are attempting to search for someone who has shown an ability to direct violence toward police officers there is a concern.”

A friend of Dagenais described him as an easygoing person.

“He was a great friend,” said 30-year-old Jeanette Franson. “I was a friend of his for quite a while.

“We stopped spending a lot of time together about five years ago, but he was super nice. I never had any problems with him.”

Meanwhile, Spiritwood residents were still trying to make sense of the disturbing events.

“It’s sorry. It’s sadness. You say it can never happen here and yet it does and that’s scary,” said Michael Swityk, a former teacher and principal who’s resided in the prairie town since 1975.

“You’d think it would never happen when it happened in Mayerthorpe, or Russell or all the names listed on the news,” said Swityk, referring to past shootings of RCMP officers in Alberta and Manitoba towns.

“When it comes right home it makes you wonder what happens and what’s going on.”