deadmonton 2006 - saskatchewan RCMP deaths - curtis alfred dagenais
Much like Mayerthorpe Mountie shooter James Roszko, Curtis Alfred Dagenais remains an enigma.
To some he was easygoing and "super nice." To others he was trouble waiting to happen. Most said he had a tough life.
Dagenais's father and mother, Elsie and Arthur, separated in 2003 after being married for 47 years. A bitter dispute over land claims followed.
It is believed Dagenais dropped out of high school, finding work on oil rigs in Lloydminster. From there he worked for a trucking company driving a semi-trailer.
Dagenais returned to Mildred, Saskatchewan two years ago, working for a local trucking company and with hopes of taking over the family farm.
When his father told him he wasn't going to receive the entire property, something inside Curtis snapped. He roared over to his mother's house and got into a confrontation with his sister, Grace. The police were called.
A cross-country chase ended with two RCMP officers later dying from gunshot wounds. Curtis Dagenais was last seen heading into the Saskatchewan bush.
Dagenais has a reputation around Mildred and nearby Spiritwood as an abusive, controlling and quiet loner. According to his uncle, Herb Jaster, Dagenais despised police and was often in trouble with the RCMP.
"We've known for a long time (about Dagenais)," RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli said. "You always know and then the questions always get asked: Could you have done something else?"
A friend of the Dagenais described him as easygoing and "super nice."
"He was a great friend," said Jeanette Franson, 30. "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."
Franson said she is still shocked at what he is accused of doing. "It blew my mind. I thought, 'No, never.'
"He was an easygoing, friendly guy. He never said too much to very many people but it took a long time for him to warm up to me and have a conversation with me too," said Franson, who made it clear she never had a romantic relationship with Dagenais.
A handwritten statement from Dagenais' family, expressing condolence for the injured officers, was obtained by the Saskatoon Star Phoenix newspaper.
"On behalf of the suspect's mother, sister and respective family, our thoughts and prayers go out to the injured RCMP members and their families," the statement reads. "We would also like to thank all the RCMP involved in protecting our family during this tragic time."
Rick Lavoie, who knew and had grown-up with Dagenais since kindergarten, was shocked his friend was the target of a massive manhunt.
"I just can't believe all of this is happening. He is not at all this horrible, horrible f---ing guy that all of these guys have to kill him," he said.
"Some people might not think he was that good of a guy but you know what? All of us have our own secrets but I guess he had some deeper than I ever really thought," Lavoie said. "I f---ing can't believe he shot two cops. I can't believe this, I cannot believe it."
Lavoie moved to Lloydminster a number of years ago and got Dagenais a job on the oil rigs and then as a tractor-trailer operator.
He said he thought of returning to Spiritwood to plead for Dagenais to come out from hiding.
"I don't know where he is and why they can't find him. But I know what he shoots -- a .308, a high-powered rifle," Lavoie said. "I don't think he's in the bush though. I think they're looking in the wrong spot."
"Curt knows that land because he grew up around it. We used to go hunting together but he hated it because he wasn't a good shot and he didn't like killing anything. He couldn't stand the sight of blood."
Lavoie's children called Dagenais "Uncle Curt" and loved to play with him when they were together. Dagenais was in Lloydminster a week before the shooting for the birthday party of Lavoie's daughter.
"Everybody's digging up all the dirty shit they can find on him now but I think the media are interviewing the wrong people. He might not have any friends in Spiritwood but I'll tell you, he sure has a hell of a lot around here," Lavoie said.
"Don't doubt me, I feel bad for what happened. I'm devastated about that. I would just like for Curt to turn himself in and deal with it. I don't want anybody to die."
Around Lloydminster, Dagenais was known as a drinker with few friends except his father. He possessed a hair-trigger temper and was a man who displayed a dislike for authority.
His semi-trailer truck was often stopped for speeding. Highway traffic officers said he would swear at them. It was said he followed one of them home once. Dagenais was convicted of threatening and assaulting a police officer.