Stephen Vogelsang is shown in screengrabs from security camera footage at two Medicine Hat banks. Volgelsang, accused of robbing the banks in October has yet tob e granted bail on similar charges in Saskatchewan, forcing adjournment until Feb. 15 of his matters in Medicine Hat. --Photos courtesy MHPS
prevell@medicinehatnews.com @MHNprevell
It was a brief first court appearance Tuesday for the man accused of robbing two banks in Medicine Hat.
Stephen Vogelsang, 53, remains in custody but appeared in person before the Medicine Hat Provincial Court, with Lethbridge-based defence lawyer Greg White acting as agent for him.
White requested an adjournment until Oct. 26, as he gathers more information needed for a possible bail hearing.
The Winnipeg man as arrested Saturday by Medicine Hat police following two separate bank robberies in on Thursday and Friday. In both cases, a man entered the banks, demanded money and then left with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Police told the News that partial descriptions of the vehicle were given by witnesses — and local police sent out the details to other agencies across the prairies, with at least one agency responding to say they were searching for a similar vehicle. More charges are possible, police said, as Regina police are currently investigating potentially similar offences in that city.
Police spotted a blue Ford truck that matched descriptions at a local hotel, and took the suspect into custody without incident.
Vogelsang, a former CTV Winnipeg news director and sports anchor, is charged with two counts of robbery. He was also a journalism instructor at Red River College in Winnipeg from 2002 until 2011.
