There are 145,000 stories in the Royal City, and this is some of them. Looking at a week’s worth of media releases from the Guelph Police Service, there’s a lot going on in our little city crime-wise speaking, so let’s run down some of the charges, issues, and requests for information from the Guelph Police Service over the last seven days.
***Please note that not all offenses and police calls are reported in the daily Guelph Police media release.
Missing Persons
Remains Found in South End
On Thursday afternoon, Guelph Police found human remains in a green space in the area of Edinburgh and Gordon. Police have yet to positively identify the remains, and the investigation is ongoing. If you have any information, call Detective Constable Scott Biser at 519-824-1212 ext. 7131, or email him at sbiser [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Former Basketball Coach Arrested for Assault Complaint
Last month, the Special Victims Unit began an investigation in an historical sexual assault complaint from between 2018 and 2022 involving a female victim who was 12 to 15 years old at the time. This investigation has led to the arrest of 30-year-old Cheryton Bennet, a former basketball coach with Tri-City Thunder, and she has been charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and uttering threats. Privacy laws prevent the disclosure of additional details, but the police wants the public to be aware of this individual’s presence in the community.
Bennett is subject to conditions stemming from the investigation, some of which include; not to attend a public park or swimming area where any persons under the age of 16 years are present or can be reasonably expected to be present, or a daycare centre, school ground, playground or community centre. She is not to seek, obtain or continue and paid or unpaid activity that involves being in a position of trust or authority towards persons under the age of 16 years.
Police are still investigating, so anyone with information is asked to call Detective Constable Dave Gamsby or Detective Sergeant Jeff Taylor at 519-824-1212, ext. 7505/7333 or email svu [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Assault
A 41-year-old Guelph man is charged with possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, carrying a concealed weapon, breach of probation and five counts of possessing a weapon contrary to an order. A man and woman were withdrawing money from an ATM at a business at Speedvale and Dawnson when a man sitting on the floor drew a black pistol that turned out to be a BB gun.
A 29-year-old Guelph man is charged with assault, resisting arrest and failing to leave a premises when directed on Wednesday morning after he was asked to leave the West Parkade, and then assaulted an employee at a nearby downtown business.
A 25-year-old Guelph man is charged with two counts of assault for a December incident on a Guelph Transit bus where two women were spat on.
Break-Ins
On Monday evening at 7:30 pm, a witness called 9-1-1 after seeing two men smashing the glass doors and entering the former Fionn MacCool’s on Edinburgh South. A total of four youths entered the building, and officers found fresh red spray paint inside plus numerous pop cans throughout the building. If you have any information, call Constable Alex Chaves at 519-824-1212, ext. 7351, or email him at achaves [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Someone or someones broke into a business near Quebec and Baker after they gained access by prying open a rear door. The business owner attended and noted a hot pink wool jacket and card reader machine with a total value of approximately $1,000 were missing. If you have any information, call Constable Bryan McKean at 519-824-1212, ext. 7109, or email him at bmckean [at] guelphpolice.ca.
On Monday morning, the owners of a home near Willow and Flaherty came downstairs to find the rear patio doors open. Footprints suggest the suspect walked into the home but then turned and left. Nothing appeared to be stolen. The incident remains under investigation, so if you have any information call Constable Ryan Horvat at 519-824-1212, ext. 7485, or email him at rhorvat [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Police were called to a home near Grange and Stuart at 8:45 pm on Sunday after at least two suspects gained entry by prying open a basement window. Once inside, they triggered an audible security alarm and fled. If you have any information, call Constable Matt Ball at 519-824-1212, ext. 7525, or email him at mball [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Drugs
A 23-year-old Guelph man was arrested and charged with possessing a restricted firearm with ammunition, unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possessing cannabis for the purpose of distribution. On Monday evening, police were called to a house near Grange and Starwood about hearing about a possible firearm, and not only did they find the loaded Glock handgun, they also found a baggie of suspected cocaine, a large amount of marijuana, contaminated digital scales and more than $15,000 in cash.
A 61-year-old Guelph woman and 24-year-old Guelph man were jointly charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking after the Break Enter Auto Theft Unit started investigating reports of cocaine trafficking in a downtown apartment building in December. On Tuesday, a search warrant was executed and officers recovered suspected cocaine and crack cocaine with an estimated value of $1,000, as well as cash, a digital scale with drug residue and drug packaging. The male suspect was also charged with trafficking a controlled substance and breach of probation.
Fraud
If you think you might be a victim of any fraud, call the Guelph Police Non-Emergency line is 519-824-5154, or contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at their website.
Impaired Driving
A 43-year-old Guelph woman was arrested for impaired operation after a driver pulled into the parking lot of a business on Woodlawn West and sat in her car for approximately 15 minutes. After that, she then began reversing across a busy laneway before coming to rest on the boulevard where she was seen vomiting. Police officers found what they believe to be fentanyl in her car, and the woman was taken to hospital for treatment.
Theft
A white 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT was stolen from the parking lot of the Galaxy Cinema on Woodlawn Wednesday evening while the owner was inside seeing a movie. If you have any information call Special Constable Drew Neil at 519-824-1212, ext. 7581, or email him at dneil [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Approximately $8,000 in product was stolen from a business on Woodlawn on Sunday. At around 5:30 pm, a man left the business with six Milwaukee blower units, each valued at $400, and then he came back to find a friend and the two of them left with electrical components valued at approximately $5,600. All of the items were placed in a white work-style van driven by a third man. If you have any information call Constable Mason Melitzer at 519-824-1212, ext. 7278, or email him at mmelitzer [at] guelphpolice.ca.
A 2023 Toyota Tundra stolen overnight last Friday from a driveway near Ironwood and Edinburgh was recovered in Brampton on Saturday afternoon with a broken passenger window and damage to the steering column. On Saturday, a black 2023 Ford F-150 work truck was found missing from a driveway near Victoria and Frederick. If you have any information on either theft call Constable Emily Dietrich at 519-824-1212, ext. 7265, or email her at edietrich [ at] guelphpolice.ca.
A 34-year-old Guelph man was charged with seven counts of possessing stolen property under $5,000, two counts of unauthorized possession of a weapon and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose after a theft from the dressing room at the Sleeman Centre on Tuesday night. Police recovered the seven phones, Apple Airpods and a pair of glasses stolen, plus a pair of brass knuckles.
A 30-year-old Guelph woman was charged with possessing stolen property over $5,000, possessing stolen property under $5,000, possessing a controlled substance, driving while prohibited and breach of probation after members of the Break Enter Auto Theft Unit spotted a stolen Hyundai SUV Tuesday afternoon.The driver was arrested and a search revealed a small baggie of suspected meth, as well as clothing and shoes with the tags still attached believed to be stolen from two stores.
A 20-year-old Guelph man was charged with trespass by night, mischief under $5,000, theft of mail and failing to comply with an undertaking after several mailboxes at an apartment building near Waterloo and Silvercreek were broken into at around 4 am last Saturday morning.
A 26-year-old man from the London area was charged with theft of motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a credit card and several counts of breaching court orders for a distraction theft last summer where a car and a credit card was stolen.
Traffic
Police were called to a store near Silvercreek and Greengate on Thursday morning after a man in his 70s tried to drive away and accidentally put his car in reverse and struck the front of the store, shattering a large window. No injuries were reported.
Other Notes
A 22-year-old male resident was arrested and charged with possessing child pornography, distributing child pornography and accessing child pornography after members of the Guelph Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit – along with the Technological Crimes Unit and Special Victims Unit – attended a residence near College and Dovercliffe Wednesday morning.
Total calls for service last week: 1,511
If you have any information about the crimes or incidents mentioned above, you can also call Guelph Wellington Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or post online at csgw.tips.
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