The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) has issued a news release regarding the death of Joey Desjarlais on Tuesday who was wanted for a series of robberies in east central Saskatchewan this month in Wadena, Melfort and Yorkton.

SIRT reiterated much of the information provided by the RCMP in that officers tried to pull over a speeding van around 1 p.m. in the afternoon on Tuesday but it sped off and according to SIRT as that was occurring RCMP received a call from an individual reporting that the man had just stolen the white van, which belonged to the local school, from her. The caller also stated they believed the man to be armed with a firearm.

The news release indicates that the pursuit of the van continued through the Fishing Lake First Nation and surrounding area before the van returned to a home on the First Nation and as it slowed down RCMP vehicles tried to intercept which is when two RCMP members shot at and hit the van. However, the van continued around the home through a wooded area, along a path to another residential area of the First Nation. That’s when an RCMP vehicle “made contact” with the van.

The man inside, who was Joey Desjarlais, was seen to be unresponsive. He was removed from the van and police provided first aid until EMS arrived which is when he was pronounced deceased.

As part of the ongoing investigation, SIRT is asking anyone who directly witnessed or may have video of the incident to contact SIRT at sirt@gov.sk.ca.

SIRT’s investigation will examine the conduct of police during this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. The RCMP will maintain conduct of the investigation into the man and his actions prior to and during the incident. A final report will be issued to the public within 90 days of the investigation ending.