Another St. Patrick’s Day has passed and GPS can report a steady stream of calls that started coming in the midafternoon. The downtown was busy that night but for the most part quite orderly. We will be looking at all the numbers and report on things later today.
Fire at Kathleen Street apartment
On March 19, 2017 at approximately 1:40pm, the Guelph Police Service received a 911 call about an apartment fire at 316 Kathleen Street. Guelph Emergency Services including police, fire and ambulance responded to the fire that was quickly contained to a second floor apartment however several adjacent apartments beside, above, and below suffered serious smoke damage. There were no injuries related to this fire.
Victim Services of Guelph Wellington and The Red Cross attended and were helping approximately 20 people from the building that could not return to their apartments. There is no damage estimate at this time and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office, the Guelph Fire Department, and the Guelph Police Service are continuing an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Drunken struggle with police leads to numerous charges
At approximately 1am on March 19th, police were called to assist security with a man that had been causing problems inside a Carden Street bar. Police arrived and tried to speak to the man who began to threaten officers and was non-compliant to any direction given to him. When officers attempted to arrest the man, a struggle ensued and a conducted energy weapon (CEW) had to be used. During the arrest, the man also grabbed the CEW in an attempt to take it away from officers. The man was eventually subdued and taken into custody.
Charged with assault with intent to resist arrest, disarm a police officer, being intoxicated in a public place and failing to leave premise when directed is Michael Gomez, 20 years of age from Cambridge. He was later released to appear before the court on May 2, 2017.
Woman assaulted
Just after 9pm on March 18, 2017 an Auden Road resident called police to report she was not injured, but had been assaulted by a man in the housing complex. An investigation was able to quickly identify and locate the man. The 37 year old Guelph man was arrested and charged with assault and breach of recognizance. He was held in custody and is scheduled to appear in bail court.
Break and Enter
On Friday March 17, 2017 a Johnston Street business reported to police that sometime overnight an unknown suspect(s) broke into the fenced area of the lot by cutting a lock. Once inside the compound copper wire was stripped out of electrical transformers.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact Cst R. Towlson at 519-824-1212 at extension #7158. Anonymous tips can be left at CRIME STOPPERS 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.csgw.tips.
Traffic collisions
Over the weekend police investigated 11 collisions and in five of those collisions there were some minor injuries reported. Driving charges were laid in relation to 5 collisions.
Calls for service
The Guelph Police Service responded to 647 calls for service over the weekend.
