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January 2024 Incident

Trial date set for Sylvan Lake man accused of attempted vehicle theft with child inside

Jun 27, 2024 | 11:20 AM

A trial date has been set for a Sylvan Lake man accused of an attempted vehicle theft that happened to have a child inside.

Rustin Goettsch, 37, is scheduled for trial in Red Deer Court of Justice on Nov. 14, 2024.

It was on Jan. 26, 2024, at 12:38 p.m., when Sylvan Lake RCMP responded to a report of an attempted theft of a motor vehicle at the McDonald’s parking lot in Sylvan Lake.

Mounties say the victim had left the vehicle in order to pick up some food, leaving their 12-year-old in the vehicle. According to police, the suspect entered the vehicle and began to pullout when they were confronted by the 12-year-old. The suspect parked the vehicle and left.

When officers arrived, they were approached by the suspect who advised that his vehicle had run out of gas. The suspect was promptly arrested.

RCMP say checks on the vehicle that the suspect came from revealed that it was reported stolen from Sylvan Lake on Jan.26, 2023. Mounties allege the suspect displayed signs of impairment during police interactions.

RCMP charged Sylvan Lake resident Rustin Goettsch with:

  • Theft of a motor vehicle
  • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
  • Theft under $5,000
  • Fail to comply with a breath demand.

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