Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of RCMP officer in Wolseley

The man charged with running over and killing RCMP Const. Shelby Patton in June of 2021 has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Alphonse Traverse, who originally was facing a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the Mountie’s death, pleaded guilty to the lesser offence Wednesday in Regina Court of King’s Bench.

The Winnipeg man also pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of a vehicle. He’s to be sentenced Feb. 29.

Patton, who was stationed at the Indian Head detachment, was killed on June 12, 2021 while responding to a call about a stolen truck in an area southeast of Francis.

The 26-year-old Mountie was killed in Wolseley when he was struck by the truck as the driver attempted to flee the scene. That town paid tribute to Patton in the days following his death, as did people in Indian Head.

“The detachment commander actually mentioned to me (that) to create the ideal RCMP member, you would clone Shelby Patton,” Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore – the commanding officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP – said during a media conference after Patton was killed.

“(He was) just an outstanding individual dedicated to the public of Saskatchewan.”

Patton was by himself when he responded to the call, which the RCMP said originated from Manitoba.

The Mounties said at the time that Patton was following the stolen truck and pulled it over before he was struck and killed. The truck was later located in a rural area northeast of Francis after it fled the scene.

With the help of local farmers, Traverse and a woman who was also in the truck were taken into custody.

The woman’s matter is still before the courts.

More to come.