Joseph “Joey” Desjarlais, from Fishing Lake First Nation, died following a police chase and gunfire on Tuesday. (Submitted photo/Saskatchewan RCMP)

By Susan McNeil

SIRT investigation

Loaded shotgun, spent casing recovered from van in officer involved fatality

Sep 27, 2024 | 12:20 PM

New details have been released from the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) regarding a fatality following a police chase in Fishing Lake earlier this week.

Joey Desjarlais, 34, was pronounced dead on Sept. 24 following a police chase and shots being fired on the Fishing Lake First Nation.

SIRT said on Friday that they were called just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday after Desjarlais’ death.

RCMP had been looking for Desjarlais in connection with armed robberies in Melfort, Foam Lake, Wadena and Yorkton.

At 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, they learned he was in his home community of Fishing Lake. At around 1 p.m., officers saw a white van being driven by Desjarlais. At the same time, they received a report that a man had just stolen a white van that belonged to the local school. The caller also stated they believed the man was armed with a firearm.

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Police attempted to stop the van, but the driver did not cooperate and drove off at a high rate of speed.

*Warning, the video below contains explicit language.

Police continued to chase the van through the community and into the surrounding area. It returned to a residence and as it slowed down, RCMP vehicles tried to intercept it and officers discharged their service pistols at the van.

The van continued around the home and drove through a wooded area and along a narrow path towards another residential area where RCMP used a vehicle to stop it.

Desjarlais was seen inside the van and unresponsive. He was removed by officers who provided first aid until EMS arrived. Paramedics pronounced him dead.

SIRT, a civilian-led, independent police oversight body, was called and sent to the Wadena RCMP detachment and Fishing Lake to begin an investigation.

During the course of the investigation, SIRT members seized a loaded shotgun and a spent shell casing from inside the white van.

SIRT said it is aware of civilian-recorded video of the incident circulating through various means. As part of the ongoing investigation, they ask anyone who directly witnessed or may have video of the incident to contact them at sirt@gov.sk.ca.

The job of SIRT is to investigate the conduct of police and include the circumstances leading up to the suspect’s death.

As is typical, they will not release any more information until their investigation is finished. A final report will be made public within 90 days of the end of the investigation.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com