A Red Deer man is in custody after police say he pulled a gun on a dealership employee during a test drive and stole the vehicle on July 21, 2026. No one was hurt in the incident, which triggered a large police response across central Alberta.
Red Deer RCMP say they got a 911 call around 11:26 a.m. about a robbery at a local car dealership. Investigators were told a man taking a test drive showed a firearm to the employee just before the drive ended, ordered the employee out, and sped away.
Officers from multiple units tracked down the suspect, including the Real Time Operations Centre, the Crime Reduction Team, Police Dog Services, Traffic Services, and the Drone as First Responder program. Police from Ponoka and Maskwacis also helped. The stolen vehicle was found, though police say it was driven at speeds up to 165 km/h.
Nathaniel Spidell, 33, of Red Deer, was arrested and charged with robbery using a firearm or imitation firearm, possession of identity documents, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Police say more charges under Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act are pending. Following a Judicial Interim Release (JIR) hearing, Spidell was ordered to stay in custody. He was scheduled to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer on July 22, 2026.
The robbery happened the day after Alberta RCMP issued reminders about preventing auto theft. Vehicle theft remains a major problem in Alberta, which has the highest per capita rate in Canada. The Équité Association reports auto theft cost Canadians $900 million in 2025.
