Red Deer Justice Centre (Image Credit: Josh Hall/rdnewsNOW)

By Sheldon Spackman

November 2025 Incident

Man found asleep behind the wheel of stolen vehicle in Eckville last year, sentenced to 30 months

Jan 22, 2026 | 11:24 AM

A man arrested asleep behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle stopped in the middle of a road in Eckville last year has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail. 

Taylor Kirk Curl, 37, was sentenced in Red Deer Court of Justice on Jan. 21, 2026. He plead guilty to five charges, including possess property over $5000, operation while prohibited, operation drug over limit, and two counts of fail to comply with release order. Four other charges were withdrawn. 

Curl, however, was also given a time credit of four months, leaving him with 26 months still to serve. 

RCMP say it was on Nov. 5, 2025, at 7:15 a.m., when they responded to a report of a vehicle stopped in the middle of a driving lane on 51 Avenue and 51 Street in the community. 

Once they arrived, police say they observed that the pickup truck was stolen, running, and had a driver sleeping behind the wheel. Police arrested the driver after he stepped out of the vehicle, which was still in drive. As a result, the vehicle moved slowly forward and struck the patrol car. 

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

8h ago

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

13h ago

eyes up

Air Spray training around Red Deer Regional Airport

14h ago

Mounties say a search of the vehicle unveiled quantities of methamphetamine. 

Police said the driver had outstanding warrants for his arrest and was breaching release conditions. 

Police charged Taylor Curl with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000; operation while prohibited; operation while impaired by drugs; operation while impaired by drugs over; and five counts of failure to comply with release order. 

Curl was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody. 

Related: Sylvan Lake RCMP charge man in Eckville after he was found allegedly sleeping in stopped vehicle