The man charged in the death of RCMP Constable Shelby Patton in Wolseley in June has now been charged with first-degree murder, and the woman he was with is now charged with accessory after the fact. The charges were updated in Regina Provincial Court Friday morning. 

"The words "investigation is ongoing" often accompanies many of our public statements,” said Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, Commanding Officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP in a written statement. “Since June 12, Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Unit North investigators have remained committed to the investigation into the death of Cst. Shelby Patton. This includes conducting further witness interviews and completing forensic examinations. As the result of continuous work and consultation with Crown Prosecution, the adult male is now charged with one count of first-degree murder.” 

Alphonse Stanley Traverse, a 42-year-old man from Winnipeg, is no longer facing a charge of manslaughter and is now charged with first-degree murder. Marlene Velma Louise Pagee, a 43-year-old woman from Winnipeg, is now charged with accessory after the fact to murder. 

On June 12th, Cst. Patton had initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that had been reported stolen from Manitoba in the town of Wolseley. During the course of the traffic stop, the truck struck and killed Cst. Patton. 

Just minutes after the traffic stop was started, the Indian Head RCMP detachment received an urgent dispatch about the incident, advising Cst. Patton was in cardiac arrest. Members of the public were on scene and were performing first aid until the arrival of EMS, but tragically, Cst. Patton was declared deceased at the scene.   

Shortly after 8:30 a.m., a farmer near Odessa called 911 to report the occupants of a white pick-up truck was on their property, and stole one of their trucks. Police responded and searched the area for the two stolen vehicles. Police found the white pick-up stuck in the mud in a field near Francis, roughly 1.5 kilometres away from the abandoned farmer’s truck.  

The suspects had fled on foot and were arrested just before 10:00 a.m., without incident, with the assistance of a police dog, officers from different nearby detachments, and the Saskatchewan RCMP Emergency Response Team.   

The two suspects have been in custody since their arrests. 

"The RCMP community and Indian Head rallied around our officers and local detachment and have announced wonderful tributes to an exceptional police officer. Time continues to pass, but we will not forget the ultimate sacrifice of our friend and colleague, Cst. Patton," shared Assistant Commissioner Blackmore.