Fergus man faces crack charge following brief foot pursuit

On April 2 Wellington County OPP were notified Guelph Police Service officials were trying to arrest a man for property crimes who was known to frequent Fergus.

At about 12pm OPP officers saw the man in the passenger seat of a vehicle on Garafraxa Street East in Fergus.

Police say when officers tried to stop the vehicle, the man fled on foot. He was caught a few minutes later on Gartshore Street after a short foot pursuit.

Matthew Gary (Matt) Hirtle, 32, of Fergus, was  charged with possession of crack cocaine, resisting a peace officer and theft under $5,000.

Police say Hirtle was charged in connection with an  alleged shoplifting incident on March 29 at the Home Hardware on St. David Street North in Fergus, during which a small kitchen scale was stolen.

He was turned over to Guelph Police and is to appear in Guelph court on May 1 to answer to the Wellington OPP charges.