Joseph Desjarlais, 34, was killed by police after a car chase near Fishing Lake First Nation. Photo: RCMP.
RCMP in Saskatchewan say they were looking for Joseph Desjarlais for two weeks before they ended up fatally shooting him at the end of a police chase on Wednesday.
According to police, multiple units were searching for Desjarlais, 34, after he was spotted in the area of Fishing Lake First Nation, 250 kilometres east of Saskatoon that day.
“Saskatchewan RCMP received a report the wanted male stole a van from a school on Fishing Lake First Nation. The investigation determined it was the van that fled from the officers. The male was reported to be armed,” the release said.
“At around 1:45 p.m., the van entered a field. Firearms were discharged and the van continued travelling.”
According to police, “the van came to a stop and additional shots were discharged. The sole occupant was located inside, injured. He was declared deceased by EMS at the scene.”
Police said the family has been notified.
They did not reveal why Desjarlais was wanted prior to the shooting.
The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is now investigating, RCMP added, noting they were disclosing the details that led up to the fatality “as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency.”
Desjarlais is the 8th First Nations person to have died after interacting with police since Aug. 29, when Jack Piché, 31, of Clearwater Dené Nation was killed after being was struck by an RCMP vehicle in what SIRT termed “foggy” conditions near the junction of two remote highways about 50 kilometres southeast of the First Nation in Saskatchewan.
