CENTRE WELLINGTON – A Fergus resident is facing assault and other charges after an incident at Groves hospital.
Wellington County OPP officials say officers were called to the hospital on Aug. 30 at about 11am.
“The victim received minor, non-life-threatening injuries,” police stated.
The OPP did not provide any other details about the incident, which it called “an isolated event.”
A 39-year-old from Fergus was charged with mischief, assault with a weapon and two counts of forcible confinement (two counts) and is to appear in Guelph court on Oct. 7.
“The identity of the accused is not being disclosed out of concern for their wellbeing, and to protect the identity of the victim,” police stated.
‘Belly bump’ charge
ERIN – An Erin man has been charged with assault and uttering threats after someone was “belly-bumped” during a dispute here.
Wellington County OPP officials say police were called to a property on Wellington Road 26 for a landlord-tenant dispute on Aug. 30 at about 3:30pm.
“Officers spoke with both parties and learned that [during] a prolonged heated argument … the tenant allegedly threatened the landlord and then ‘belly-bumped’ them, causing the landlord to be knocked onto the ground,” police stated in a Sept. 3 press release.
The victim did not report any injury, police added.
Anthony Vandervelde, 58, of Erin, was charged with assault and uttering threats (to cause death or bodily harm) and is to appear in Guelph court at a later date.
Theft, fraud charges
FERGUS – Police have arrested two suspects in connection with credit card theft and fraud, which were discovered at a local bank last week.
Wellington County OPP officials say officers responded to the theft call at a Fergus bank on Sept. 3 at about 12:30pm.
“Officers quickly attended the area, located the two suspects involved (who had fled) and placed them under arrest,” police stated in a Sept. 4 press release.
Sasha Popisan Bravo, 24, and Dylan Chancafe Bravo, 18, both of Bradford, were each charged with theft of credit card, using a stolen credit card, fraud (under $5,000) and two counts of possession of property obtained by crime (under $5,000).
They were transported to a Nottawasaga OPP detachment and held for a bail hearing.
Drug, weapon charges
FERGUS – A local resident is facing drug, weapon and other charges after a traffic stop here last week.
Wellington County OPP officials say officers were monitoring traffic in Fergus on Sept. 9 at about 2:45am when they observed a vehicle that appeared to be travelling above the posted speed limit.
Police stopped the vehicle on Garafraxa Street East in Fergus.
A 20-year-old from Fergus was charged with possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine), carrying a concealed weapon, unauthorized possession of a weapon, speeding and being a novice driver with a blood-alcohol level above zero.
The accused is scheduled to appear in Guelph court on Oct. 14.
Vehicle stolen, recovered
GUEPLH/ERAMOSA – A Guelph man has been charged after a car was stolen here last week.
Wellington County OPP officials say there were called about a vehicle theft in progress in Guelph/Eramosa on Sept. 3 at about 2pm.
Officers arrived shortly thereafter, located the suspect “and placing them into custody,” police stated in a press release the next day.
“The victim’s … vehicle was recovered and returned,” police added.
Gary McClennan, 35, of Guelph, was charged with theft of motor vehicle and driving without a licence and was held for a bail hearing.
Lost pet scam attempts
GUELPH/ERAMOSA – Local police are warning residents after yet another scam attempt – this one involving a lost pet.
It all started when a Guelph/Eramosa resident shared a photo of their lost cat on social media and other websites on Aug. 31.
“While in this process, the resident received an email from an unfamiliar … address, advising that they located their lost cat [and demanding] $250 for it to be returned,” stated a Sept. 3 press release from the Wellington County OPP.
“Additionally, the fraudster sent a photo back of the photo that the resident originally posted, (which) appeared to be digitally altered in the attempt to convince they located the cat.”
Police say the resident became suspicious and called the police.
“While police were present and speaking with the resident, the lost cat thankfully returned home,” police stated.
Guelph Police say there were two similar incidents reported to them last week.
The Wellington County OPP officials are encouraging resident to stay vigilant to avoid becoming a fraud victim.
For more information on scams and fraud, police suggest reading The Little Black Book of Scams at competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/03074.html.
Report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 or visiting antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
Two break-ins
GUELPH/ERAMOSA – Police are looking for help to identify a suspect wanted in connection with two break-ins on the same street and on the same day last week.
Wellington County OPP officers responded to a home on Wellington Road 29 on Sept. 4 at about 11am.
Police say an “unknown suspect forcibly [entered] … an unoccupied residence.
“Officers then received a subsequent call, regarding another residence on Wellington Road 29 being entered into while the home owners were away.”
Police say that the suspect was in the area between 8 and 9:30am.
Partner violence
WELLINGTON COUNTY – Local police continue to lay intimate partner violence charges across the county.
Those arrested include a 32-year-old from Grand Valley, who was charged with assault with a weapon in relation to an incident in Fergus on Sept. 7.
The accused individual is to appear in Guelph court at on Oct. 7.
Indecent acts arrest
GUELPH – A Guelph man has been arrested after several women reported he followed them while masturbating and making crude comments.
At about 2am on Sept. 6, a woman in her 40s attended a business on Woolwich Street near Speedvale Avenue.
“She was approached by a man who began speaking to her and followed her to the washroom. He then followed her outside and began masturbating while she fled in her vehicle,” Guelph Police stated in a Sept. 8 press release.
“Three hours later, a woman in her 50s was walking in the same area with a friend when the man began following them. He stood close to them as they waited at a crosswalk and began masturbating.
“The woman told police there was a family with young children waiting for a bus nearby at the time.”
Police say the same man was involved in “similar behaviour” in mid-August, following and talking to two women while touching himself.
On Sept. 7 a 29-year-old Guelph man was arrested and charged with four counts of committing an indecent act. He was held for a bail hearing on Monday.
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Anyone with information about any of the above incidents can contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip at csgw.tips. Tip providers may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
