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.
Assault
Police are investigating after an employee at Old Quebec Street Shoppes had a knife pulled on him Wednesday morning. When one person was seen writing on a wall with a marker, the employee approached and after a brief interaction one of the men removed a knife from his pocket and began waving it around while threatening to stab the employee. The men were last seen walking southbound on Wyndham Street North.
Police are also investigating after a man reported being attacked outside his home by two other men with a bat last Saturday morning at a home near Elizabeth and Huron. A man spotted two men outside near his vehicle, and when he went out to speak to them one of the men had a bat and struck the victim several times. The victim was transported to hospital for treatment of serious injuries to his arms and legs, and the suspects were last seen on foot, walking along Elizabeth Street towards downtown. One was described as a white male, approximately 30 wearing a black leather jacket and black pants. There was no description of the second male.
A 54-year-old Guelph man was arrested for assaulted and being intoxicated in public on Tuesday afternoon at a store near Edinburgh and Stone. A man who had previously caused issues at the store was there and he pushed one of the staff members when they tried to remove them.
A 32-year-old Guelph man is charged with theft under $5,000, resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer and failing to comply with probation after police were called to a Speedvale East business about a shoplifter. When they found the suspect a short distance away, the man resisted and kicked one of the officers in the groin while he was attempting to handcuff the suspect.
Break-Ins
On Wednesday morning, police were called to a home near Willow and Ferman after the homeowners returned from vacation to find their rear door had been kicked in and a gate damaged to provide access to the backyard. A quantity of cash and jewellery was missing. If you have any information, call Constable Dakota Dakins at 519-824-1212, ext. 7277, email him at ddakins [at] guelphpolice.ca.
South end break-ins have prompted police to remind people to make sure that they lock their windows and doors; two of the break-ins were in the area of Gordon and University, one was near Gordon and Kortright and the fourth was near Kortright and Ironwood. Thefts were reported from each of the break-ins, including wallets, cash and electronics. A black Audi SUV was stolen from the Ironwood location, and property from the Audi including child car seats were later recovered a short distance away near a Toyota SUV which had earlier been reported stolen in Hamilton. It’s unsure if the four incidents are connected.
A 16-year-old Guelph boy was arrested for break, enter and mischief in relation to a January break-in at the former site of Fionn MacCool’s at Edinburgh and Stone. Two 13-year-old boys from Guelph had already been arrested for the break-in.
Drugs
A 32-year-old Guelph man is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possessing a controlled substance, possession of a stolen credit card, breaching probation and failing to attend court after police spotted a man on Woolwich last Friday evening that they knew to be wanted for missing a court date last summer. He was placed under arrest for an outstanding warrant, and a search revealed suspected fentanyl and crystal meth in unlabelled jars, as well as a digital scale and two cellphones. Officers observed incoming messages on the phones including one seeking to procure fentanyl. Officers also recovered a credit card in someone else’s name
Fraud
As Fraud Prevention Month wraps up, actual fraud continues to be an issue and Guelph Police are warning about the use of emerging technologies in fraud including the assistance of artificial intelligence in phishing or the creation of deep fakes. Fraudsters are also using fake QR codes, spoofing and SEO or search engine optimization, which makes the fake website list higher in search engines.
To protect yourself, do your own research before buying anything, beware of unsolicited text messages, emails, and social media messages asking you to scan a QR code, verify contact information, reach out to someone via alternative channels if you get a strange message over social media, and if you get an incoming call asking for personal information or money, hang up! For more tips, visit the CAFC website.
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 45-year-old Guelph man was charged with impaired driving, and his licence was suspended for 90 days after it was reported to police that a driver was passed out in his vehicle at Imperial and Speedvale intersection.
A 33-year-old Guelph man was charged with impaired driving and driving with open alcohol, plus his licence was suspended for 90 day after police were called Monday night about a vehicle being driven erratically and without lights on Gordon Street. Police found the car parked at Gordon and Wellington and when they talked to driver he had spilled beer on his pants and seats.
A 25-year-old Guelph woman was charged with impaired operation, two counts of possessing a controlled substance and having care of a vehicle with cannabis readily available, after police were called about someone being passed out in a vehicle at Farley and Goodwin. A passerby saw a woman sleeping in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle. The woman was awakened by the witness, but then immediately fell asleep again. Officers found drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle, including a glass pipe, tin foil and baggies of suspected cocaine and fentanyl, as well as an unsealed container of cannabis.
A 44-year-old Kitchener man is charged with impaired driving last Saturday night after a RIDE check at Woodlawn and Woolwich.
Approximately 1,500 vehicles were checked during weekend RIDE programs last weekend. Six drivers were handed three-day suspensions after breath tests registered in the ‘warn’ range, while two other tickets were issued under the Highway Traffic Act for equipment infractions
Theft
On Tuesday morning at 11 am, a man entered a Stone Road West business, broke the lock on a display cabinet with a screwdriver, and stole more than $2,300 worth of watches. If you have any information, call Constable Melissa Anthony at 519-824-1212, ext. 7487, email her at manthony [at] guelphpolice.ca.
A 23-year-old Etobicoke man was charged with robbery and forcible confinement in relation to November 2019 robbery at a business near Edinburgh and Stone where four people were zip-tied in a backroom while a crew stole $40,000 worth of cellphones. A DNA match was made to a man currently in custody on outstanding robbery and weapons offences in other jurisdictions.
Traffic
Nothing to report.
Other Notes
Nothing else to report.
Total calls for service last week: 1,202
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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