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
At approximately 9 pm on Sunday, a 69-year-old was walking his dog near Westwood and Imperial when he saw another man walking his dog across the street. The two had a brief verbal exchange after the other man accused the victim of looking at him. The victim continued walking, but then someone ran up behind him, threw him to the ground, and struck him in the head and face. He was transported by ambulance to hospital for treatment for a mild concussion and facial injuries. The suspect was described as a black male in his mid-20s, 5’11” and wearing a bright orange jacket and black toque. He was walking a light brown or tan-coloured boxer-style dog with a curly tail. If you have any information, call Constable Meghan Hern at 519-824-1212, ext. 7138, or email mhern [at] guelphpolice.ca.
A 24-year-old Guelph man is charged with theft under $5,000, assault and uttering threats on Thursday after a man was seen in a store at Stone Road Mall placing several items into a large bag. An employee confronted the man as he tried to leave the mall, but he threatened her and pushed her aside. Officers located him a short distance away and found him to be in possession of 19 stolen items which were recovered and returned.
Break-Ins
Just after 3 am on Monday, police were called to a business near Grange and Victoria after the owner received an alarm notification and officers arrived to find the back door had been cut in half horizontally. The suspect was seen on video entering the store with a reciprocating saw in his hand, but he fled moments later when the motion alarm sounded. He was wearing a black or dark-coloured hoodie, grey sweatpants, black running shoes and a dark-coloured face mask. If you have any information, call Constable Jovan Dhanju at 519-824-1212, ext. 7805, email jdhanju [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Shortly before 1 am on Monday, police received two alarm calls from a jewelry store near Kortright and Edinburgh. Officers arrived a few minutes later and observed a rear door had been pried open. Security video showed four males entering the business and stealing a number of items before fleeing 20 seconds later. The suspects were described as:
- White male, medium build, black jacket, black balaclava, black pants, black and white Converse shoes, red gloves, crowbar
- White male, heavy build, black jacket, grey shirt, black shoes, blue medical gloves
- White male, heavy build, green and grey tracksuit, black balaclava, white shoes, blue medical gloves
- White male, medium build, black sweater, black pants, black balaclava, black shoes, white gloves
If you have any information, call Constable Dylan Costello at 519-824-1212, ext. 7396, or email dcostello [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Drugs
A 52-year-old Eden Mills woman was charged with five counts of possessing controlled substances for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of possessing controlled substances. Police on patrol early last Saturday spotted an SUV parked near the dead end of Woodlawn Road East. A traffic stop was conducted, and some cannabis gummies and cigarettes were found as well as suspected fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy and prescription opioids, as well as scales and other evidence of trafficking. A 51-year-old Guelph man was also charged with possessing a controlled substance, possessing unmarked cigarettes and having care of a vehicle with open alcohol.
Fraud
A woman in her 80s reported that she was contacted in late 2024 by someone claiming that they were from the office of the Attorney General of Canada and investigating her for identity theft. These calls continued several times a week, and eventually the caller began providing instructions on how to deposit funds at Bitcoin ATM machines, claiming these were part of the fraud investigation and would be returned once the woman was cleared. Over the next year, she attended ATMs across the city and deposited funds, often thousands of dollars at a time. When she eventually told her family what was happening they advised her to contact police. The victim acknowledged to police she should have reported it sooner, but was embarrassed it had gone on so long.
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.
Human Trafficking/IPV
Nothing to report.
Impaired Driving
A 72-year-old Guelph man was charged with impaired driving and careless driving on Thursday evening, after a driver rear-ended another vehicle near Stevennson and Emma.
A 79-year-old Guelph woman was charged with impaired driving on Tuesday afternoon after police received reports of a possible impaired driver in the area of Victoria and Arkell after several near collisions with other vehicles. When they spoke to the driver, they noted she had slurred speech and an odour of alcohol on her breath.
A 27-year-old Guelph man was charged with impaired driving, dangerous driving, assault, possession for the purpose of trafficking and failing to comply with a release order last Saturday morning after a four-vehicle collision on Elizabeth Street. Investigation revealed that the driver was travelling at a high rate of speed when he lost control, mounted the curb and struck three parked vehicles. The driver was unconscious and had an odour of alcohol on his breath. Officers located a glass jar containing suspected cocaine as well as empty baggies and a scale, plus the driver was in the vehicle with a woman was on a condition to have no contact with. They had been involved in an altercation earlier in the evening.
A 59-year-old Guelph man was charged with impaired driving and failing to stop after an accident last Saturday afternoon after a collision in a parking lot on Woodlawn Road East. Officers attended the suspect’s address and observed the damaged vehicle in the driveway. Tests confirmed that the driver had more than the legal amount of alcohol in his system.
A 21-year-old Guelph man was charged with impaired driving and novice driver having alcohol in his system early Sunday morning after emergency services were called to Gordon Street and Harts Lane. A driver had lost control, mounting the curb and knocking over a hydro pole.
Theft
A retirement home employee intervened Tuesday morning to prevent a distraction theft at Willow West Mall. The witness saw a woman in a car leaning out and attempting to place a necklace around their client’s neck. The vehicle was described as a black Mazda CX5 registered to a Scarborough rental agency. The male driver and two female passengers were described as possibly Middle Eastern and all wearing dark clothing. The incident remains under investigation so if you have any information call Constable Jessica Belcastro at 519-824-1212, ext. 7287, or email jbelcastro [at] guelphpolice.ca.
On December 3, a resident of a downtown apartment building reported that a package had been stolen from outside her door. The package, which contained disassembled furniture, was delivered at approximately noon and stolen 30 minutes later. Security video captured an image of a person of interest. He was described as a white male in his mid-20s to mid-30s, tall and thin with short brown hair. He was wearing a green winter jacket over a Toronto Blue Jays jersey, dark pants and black Nike running shoes. If you have any information, call Constable Todd Van Iersel at 519-824-1212, ext. 7557, or email tvaniersel [at] guelphpolice.ca.
A Guelph woman reported she was walking to her vehicle outside the Walmart on Stone Road at around 10 am on Tuesday when she was approached by a man and two women in a vehicle. The woman overheard the man speaking Serbian to the two passengers and telling them to get the woman to lean into the vehicle so they could steal her jewelry. The complainant quickly walked to her vehicle. The suspect male was described as having a heavy build and dark hair. The two female passengers had thin builds; one with a headscarf tied at the neck and the other with dark hair. They were driving a grey van or SUV. If you have any information, call Constable Todd Van Iersel at 519-824-1212, ext. 7557, email tvaniersel [at] guelphpolice.ca.
A 37-year-old Guelph woman was charged with making a false fire alarm, theft under $5,000, possessing stolen property under $5,000 and two counts of breaching a probation order on Monday. The suspect had activated two alarm stations inside Old Quebec Street, and was found by police with a defibrillator, which mall security confirmed was stolen.
A 37-year-old Guelph man was charged with robbery last Friday after a victim in his 30s was approached by a stranger who asked him to hand over his ring in the lobby of an east end apartment. When the victim refused, the other man pulled out a weapon and lunged at him. After a brief physical struggle the victim fell down and the other man ran away. Police located the suspect a short time later.
Theft (Auto)
At approximately 8 am on Thursday, a resident near Downey and Woodland Glen reported that his grey 2023 Ford F150 Tremor had been stolen from the driveway. Two males were caught on security video using a long tool to unlock the truck after arriving in another vehicle. The truck has a tonneau cover and the logo for a woodworking company on the back window. A quantity of tools and materials valued at $10,000 were inside the truck. If you have any information call Constable Jonathan Schleen at 519-824-1212, ext. 7570, or email jschleen [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Just after 6 pm on Wednesday, police were called to a business on Stone Road West where a 2002 Toyota Camry had been left running outside while the owner prepared his next delivery inside the business. His wallet and phone were inside, as well as a debit machine and iPad owner by the store. Security video showed another vehicle stopping behind the stolen one. A passenger exited that vehicle, got into the Toyota and drove away. He was described as a white male with an average build and wearing a hoodie with the hood up. If you have any information, call Constable Kyle Sanson at 519-824-1212, ext. 7539, email ksanson [at] guelphpolice.ca.
A 39-year-old Milton man was charged with driving while prohibited and possessing stolen property on Thursday after a traffic stop near Fair and Arrow. The officer noted that the vehicle had two different licence plates, one of which had been reported stolen. Investigation revealed the driver is prohibited as a result of a dangerous driving conviction.
Traffic
A 48-year-old Guelph man was charged with dangerous driving, obstructing police, flight from police, carrying a concealed weapon, possessing a controlled substance, two counts of breaching a probation order and four counts of breaching a bail order last Friday. Responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle on Speedvale East, police found a man sleeping in the driver’s seat of a car with two young children strapped into car seats in the back. While officers were conducting further investigation, the man reversed the car, striking a cruiser and causing minor damage, then fled at a high speed. The children were later found safe at a residence near Victoria and Brant, and the suspect was arrested after a foot chase Wednesday. A search of his person revealed a folding knife and small amount of suspected crystal meth.
A 64-year-old Guelph man was arrested for driving while suspended and driving without insurance on Thursday afternoon downtown after police were alerted to a vehicle owned by a suspended driver. While the driver was being searched, the officer located two summons issued four days earlier by another police service for the same offences.
Other Notes
A 37-year-old Guelph man was charged with resisting arrest and failing to appear in court on Monday night after a foot chase. Officers spotted a man near Wyndham and Douglas and knew him to be wanted for failing to appear on several charges including assault with a weapon. The man fled, eventually crossing the Speed River to Arthur Street North where he began running through backyards. He was located but continued to resist efforts to handcuff him.
Total calls for service last week: 1,563
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.tip.
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