A 20-year-old man appeared in court today for the alleged theft of an SUV – with a three-year-old inside.
Colin Umpherville appeared in Saskatchewan Provincial Court facing charges of theft of a motor vehicle and abandoning a child.
It is alleged that on Oct. 26, Umpherville stole a 1993 Ford Explorer from the Co-Op Gas Bar on Second Avenue West that had been left idling with a three-year-old boy while the father asked the attendant for a tire gauge.
Minutes later, the boy was found wandering near 15th Street and Sixth Avenue West by a local couple. They took him in and called the police. Forty minutes later the child and his father were reunited.
Sgt. Bill Chow with the Prince Albert Police Service said they found the vehicle early Wednesday morning.
“A person was arrested that had possession of the motor vehicle,” said Chow. “At the time of the arrest we weren’t sure if he had actually stolen it. But with further investigation it was determined he was responsible with stealing the motor vehicle.”
Umpherville was held in custody. He appeared in court wearing blue jeans and a golf shirt.
His appearance was brief. A bail hearing and bail review are scheduled for Nov. 3.
He remains in custody.
adesouza@rawlco.com
