An RCMP officer was struck and killed by a vehicle he had pulled over in Wolseley Saturday morning. The officer, 26-year-old Constable Shelby Patton, had been following the truck, which was allegedly stolen in Manitoba, before attempting to pull it over. The truck is said to have struck Patton as the driver attempted to flee the scene.

Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said during a press conference Saturday evening the truck continued on after hitting Patton and was found in a rural area northeast of Francis around 10:00 a.m. A man and a woman were taken into custody with the assistance of local farmers, however, no details on what charges they may be facing have been released.

“A tragedy such as this shakes our entire RCMP family to its core coast to coast,” Blackmore stated. “Today Constable Patton will not be coming home from doing his job protecting the public.”

Blackmore added that Patton, who was working out of the Indian Head detachment, was described by his detachment commander as the epitome of what an RCMP officer should be. A six-year veteran of the force, Patton had previously worked at Parliament Hill before joining the national police force.

Patton leaves behind a wife, whom Blackmore said she had to tell the news her husband would not be coming home.

“I am heartbroken for her and her family”, Blackmore said during the conference.