Just after 9am on Saturday January 21st, a Guelph Police Service cruiser equipped with an ALPR device (Automatic Licence Plate Reader) attempted to stop a vehicle after it recorded a vehicle with an expired licence plate driving on Woolwich Street. When the vehicle pulled off the road and into a parking lot, police activated their emergency lights to have it stop and the driver of that vehicle responded by accelerating out of the lot at a high rate of speed.
The fleeing vehicle reached speeds approaching 120 km/hr in the posted 50km/hr zone through the area where there are several commercial properties on the east and west side of the roadway, as well as a senior citizen residence and a park. The vehicle was located as pulled into an apartment lot on Willow Road and the driver was arrest without incident.
A 39 year-old Guelph man is charged with flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, breach of probation, drive under suspension, drive motor vehicle – no current validation on plate and is to appear in bail court.
Motor vehicle collisions
Speed and alcohol were factors in the early morning hours on January 22nd, when a twenty year-old Georgetown man was driving westbound on Woolwich Street, and failed to safely negotiate a right turn. The motor vehicle mounted the west side curb and struck a hydro pole, then struck an unoccupied parked motor vehicle and then hit a building on Woolwich Street. The 3 occupants sustained minor injuries and did not require hospital treatment. Both vehicles in the collision were demolished. The vehicle and property damage is estimated at $50,000.00
The driver of the vehicle was charged under the Highway Traffic Act for careless driving, drive while under suspension and novice driver – blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above zero.
Police investigated 10 collisions over the weekend and three of those resulted in minor injuries. Driving charges where laid in five of the collisions.
Female asleep behind the wheel charged
On Saturday January 21, 2017 police were called by a Woolwich Street bank who reported that there was a woman who was passed out behind the wheel of her car while it was running. When police arrived and woke the woman up, she appeared confused. Further investigation resulted in her arrest.
Victoria Whittaker of Campbellville was charged with three counts of drug possession for substances believed to be methamphetamine, marihuana and cocaine that were found. She was released and is scheduled to appear before the court at a later date.
Female assaulted
At 1:50am on January 22nd, a female was walking in the area of Carden Street with other late-night patrons when she was approached by a man that she did not know. Without apparent provocation, the man assaulted the female and some other by-standers came to her aid. Police were called and the man was still on the scene there when they arrived.
Michael McArthur, a 33 year-old Guelph man was arrested and charged with assault. He was released to appear before the court on March 3, 2017.
Female arrested for random damage
In the early morning hours of January 21st, a woman who was visiting a Carden Street building smashed one of the glass fire extinguisher doors and then walked out of the building, walked up the street and proceeded to break the window of a Carden Street restaurant. Sometime later, police were able to view on-site video and recognized the female responsible. She was located a short while later in the downtown core and arrested and charged with two counts of mischief and also drug possession for marihuana that was found when she was arrested.
Jennifer Bertrand of Guelph was released to appear before the court on March 7, 2017.
Break-ins
At approximately 6:30 am on January 22nd staff at a near-by Woolwich Street business called police when a male was seen shattering the window of an adjacent business. The male reached into the window and took what is believed to be cigarettes, then fled on foot. It was dark and there was no description of the male.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contactCst T. Hern at 519-824-1212 at extension #7439. Anonymous tips can be left at CRIME STOPPERS 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.csgw.tips.
– Early Sunday morning residents at a Woodland Glen home returned home after being away for a week to find that unknown suspect(s) broke in through a basement window. Cash, jewelry and electronics were taken.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact Cst. K. Ketteringham at 519-824-1212 at extension #7513. Anonymous tips can be left at CRIME STOPPERS 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.csgw.tips
– On the evening of January 20th, a woman was checking on a friend’s Imperial Road apartment while she was away from the day before. The windows were found open and the apartment had been ransacked. At this time, is unknown who is responsible and exactly what is missing from the apartment.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact Cst A. Nagrodski at 519-824-1212 at extension #7137. Anonymous tips can be left at CRIME STOPPERS 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.csgw.tips.
Theft from vehicles
There were thefts from six separate vehicles over the weekend on Blair Road, Edinburgh Road, Home Street and Southampton Street. Loose change, jewelry, alcohol and other property were reported taken.
This crime is easily avoided by locking your cars, keeping valuables out of sight or removed from your vehicle and parked in a well-lit and visible area where possible. If you do fall victim to this crime, please report using the Guelph Police CopLogic online reporting system. You can find this on the Guelph Police website under Online Reporting. You can also check out recent theft from car locations by going to our crime mapping page.
Over the course of the weekend the Guelph Police Service responded to 613 incidents.