On Jan. 26, 2024, at 12:38 p.m., Sylvan Lake RCMP responded to a report of an attempted theft of a motor vehicle at the McDonald’s parking lot in Sylvan Lake. The victim had left the vehicle in order to pick up some food leaving their 12-year-old in the vehicle. 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. Checks on the vehicle that the suspect came from revealed that it was reported stolen from Sylvan Lake on Jan.26, 2023. The suspect displayed signs of impairment during police interactions.

RCMP have charged Sylvan Lake resident 37-year-old Rustin Goettsch with:

  • Theft of a motor vehicle
  • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
  • Theft under $5000
  • Fail to comply with a breath demand.

Goettsch was taken before a justice of the peace and released from custody with his next court date set for Feb. 9, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer.

“Some crimes are easier to solve than others,” says Cpl. Sean Sexsmith of the Sylvan Lake RCMP, “In this case we are thankful that this potentially dangerous situation was mitigated without injury to the 12-year-old.”