A traffic stop of a speeding van led to a chase through rural roads near Fishing Lake First Nation and ended in the death of a wanted man.
An RCMP pursuit of a wanted man on rural Saskatchewan roads ended in gunshots and the suspect’s death.
Around 1 p.m., officers spotted a speeding van, turned on their emergency lights and tried a traffic stop, but the van didn’t stop, the release said.
RCMP learned the van had been stolen from a school on the First Nation by the wanted man, who was reported to be armed, the release said.
Officers chased the van down rural roads while RCMP monitored the chase for any risk to public safety and prepared to send out a dangerous person alert, the release said.
Around 1:45 p.m., the van drove into a field and shots were fired while it continued moving, the release said, noting that more shots were fired when it stopped.
The driver was found injured inside. He was later declared dead at the scene by EMS, the release said.
He is identified as Joseph Desjarlais, 34. His family has been notified.
He was wanted for armed robberies around the province.
Fishing Lake First Nation is 243 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.
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