On July 21 at approximately 11:26 a.m., Red Deer RCMP responded to a report of a robbery involving a vehicle during a test drive from a local dealership.

Police allege that near the end of the test drive, a 33-year-old man displayed a firearm to a dealership employee and ordered the employee out of the vehicle. The employee complied, and the suspect drove away in the stolen vehicle at a high rate of speed.

The investigation involved multiple RCMP resources, including the Real Time Operations Centre (RTOC), Crime Reduction Team (CRT), Drone as First Responder (DFR), Police Dog Services (PDS), Traffic Services, as well as officers from Ponoka RCMP and Maskwacis RCMP.

Police say the stolen vehicle reached speeds of up to 165 km/h before it was recovered. No injuries were reported.

As a result of the investigation, RCMP arrested Nathaniel Spidell, 33, of Red Deer.

Spidell has been charged with:

• Robbery using a firearm or imitation firearm;

• Possession of identity documents; and

• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

  
  

RCMP say additional charges under Alberta's Traffic Safety Act are pending.

Following a judicial interim release hearing, Spidell was remanded into custody. He is scheduled to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer on July 22, 2026.