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 1:30 am last Friday, a 21-year-old reported that he was in a downtown bar with some friends when he was assaulted by three men, who grabbed him by the throat and punched him in the face causing a laceration which required stitches. The victim was removed from the business by an acquaintance and later sought medical attention. The incident remains under investigation, and if you have any information call Constable Briar Smith at 519-824-1212, ext. 7349, or email bsmith [at] guelphpolice.ca.
A 38-year-old Guelph woman was charged with two counts of assault and causing a disturbance after two people were assaulted – one was slapped in the face and the other had her phone knocked out of her hand – all because they didn’t have a cigarette lighter.
Break-Ins
A 35-year-old Guelph man was charged with possessing break and enter tools and disobeying a court order on Saturday morning after a patrol near Woolwich and Speedvale located a man wanted on warrants from another police service. He was placed under arrest, and during a search officers located bolt cutters, pliers and magnets.
Drugs
Nothing to report.
Fraud
On Thursday night, officers spoke to a Guelph woman in her 60s who received a call from someone claiming to be with her bank’s fraud department reporting suspicious transactions on her account. The caller instructed the woman to cut her debit and credit cards in half and a courier would come and collect them. The courier, who turned out to be an Uber driver, picked up the card and left the cards with a man he met in a parking lot. A short time later the cards were used to withdraw $2,480 and make more than $2,300 in purchases. The investigation is ongoing.
A Guelph reported to police that he met another man on a dating app and later sent nude photos as well as his phone number and Instagram profile. He later received texts including the nude photos and a demand for payment or else the photos would be shared with his Instagram contacts. The victim sent $40 and then cut off communication with the suspect. The incident remains under investigation.
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 31-year-old Milton woman was charged with impaired operation after emergency responders were called to an address on York Road when a woman called 9-1-1 from inside her car, which was parked at the side of the road. A search of the vehicle revealed a small amount of crystal methamphetamine. She was transported to hospital where blood samples were taken for further analysis.
A 17-year-old Wellington County girl was charged with impaired driving, three counts of dangerous driving, three counts of failing to stop after a collision and flight from police. last Friday after responding to reports of a vehicle that rammed two of police cruisers in other jurisdiction when members of that service attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Guelph Police found the vehicle in a parking lot on Woodlawn Road East, and as they approached the driver attempted to flee and collided with a fence. An officer used their cruiser to pin the vehicle in place. No injuries were reported by the driver or her three passengers.
Theft
At approximately 3:35 pm on December 14, a man was observed placing several containers of formula into reusable bags and quickly walking out of a store at Kortright and Edinburgh as loss-prevention staff tried to stop him. Later that day at 4:30, at a shop near Eramosa and Stevenson, he was seen again putting numerous containers of formula in a cart, but as he headed for the exit he was approached by a loss prevention employee and told he was under arrest. The man fled on foot, and was described as a white male with short light brown hair, wearing a red plaid jacket, black pants and greyish white shoes. If you have any information, or recognize the man in the attached photo, call Constable Jessica Belcastro at 519-824-1212, ext. 7287, or email jbelcastro [at] guelphpolice.ca.
On Wednesday morning, the superintendent of a building near Paisley and Elmira reported that a man had entered the building just before 4:30 am using a resident’s missing fob. He used a tool to pry open two mailboxes and left the building carrying unknown items. The suspect was described as a white male wearing a silver jacket, white pants, white shoes, a black hoodie and grey and red mask. If you have any information, call Constable Cam McKeen at 519-824-1212, ext. 7361, or email cmckeen [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Theft (Auto)
Three Brampton men – aged 27 to 32 – face charges including possessing stolen property over $5,000, possessing stolen property under $5,000, occupying a stolen motor vehicle and breaching court orders. The Break Enter Auto Theft Unit were investigating the theft of a Toyota Camry from a Guelph gym on New Year’s Eve. The stolen vehicle was tracked to an address in Brampton, and the three suspects were spotted driving a Toyota van that had been stolen from Toronto earlier that morning.
Traffic
An 18-year-old Oakville man was charged with stunt driving after police found a car towing people on a sled in a parking lot at York and Watson after midnight Friday. The vehicle was spinning in circles while two people on sleds were being dragged with ropes. Officers also saw a man riding in the car’s open trunk.
A 43-year-old Guelph man was charged with speeding and stunt driving. after he was clocked travelling 108 kilometres per hour in a 60 zone on Wellington near Imperial on Wednesday morning.
A 33-year-old Guelph man was charged with speeding and stunt driving for driving 118 kilometres per hour in a 60 zone on Speedvale at Elmira.
A 21-year-old Brampton man was charged with driving while suspended, driving without insurance and driving with no vehicle permit on Tuesday afternoon was an automated licence plate reader on a patrol car travelling down York Road was alerted to a suspended driver. To prevent continued offences, the man’s vehicle was impounded indefinitely.
A 22-year-old Fergus man is charged with careless driving causing bodily harm after a 30-year-old man was struck while crossing the street at Woodlawn and Woolwich. The victim was transported to a Hamilton trauma centre where he is listed in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.
Other Notes
A 41-year-old Guelph man is charged with mischief under $5,000, after it was reported that the tire on a car was slashed in Stone Road Mall last Friday. A witness had observed a man walking around the car, crouching down near the rearm and then heard the tire being punctured. The suspect and his vehicle were captured on security video.
On Saturday evening, a 19-year-old Guelph man was arrested for committing an indecent act that happened earlier that day in a Stone Road Mall store. The manager reported he observed a man masturbating with his hand inside his pants while watching a female employee, who ran away when confronted.
Total calls for service last week: 1,709
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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