Police beat: Elmira man charged after police seize $600,000 in drugs
WELLINGTON COUNTY – An Elmira man has been charged with drug trafficking following a drug bust in Waterloo Region last week.
Wellington County OPP officials say local officers, assisted by Huron/Perth, Haldimand/Norfolk, Grey Bruce and Lampton police, executed two search warrants in Waterloo Region on Sept. 3 at about 1:30pm.
Police say that “as a result of a lengthy drug-trafficking investigation dating back to March 2026,” one person was arrested and police seized drugs with an estimated street value of $603,048 as well as “a large amount of Canadian currency and other various offence related property.”
George Whitmore, 26, of Elmira, was charged with possession of property obtained by crime (over $5,000) and five counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking (including cocaine). He was held for a bail hearing.
Careless driving charge
WELLINGTON NORTH – A Drayton woman has been charged with careless driving following a collision near Mount Forest last week.
Emergency crews responded to a crash involving a pickup truck and electric bicycle on Wellington Road 6, just outside of Mount Forest, on Sept. 1 at about 6:30am.
“The operator of the [ebike] was transported to a local hospital with minor, non-life-threatening injuries,” police stated in a press release.
Kayla Winters, 35, of Drayton, was charged with careless driving causing bodily harm and is to appear in Guelph court at a later date.
Stolen vehicle
ERIN – Police are requesting the public’s assistance to help locate a stolen Jeep and find the person(s) responsible.
Wellington County OPP officials say police responded on Aug. 31 to a report that a vehicle was stolen from the driveway of a residence on Scotch Street in Erin.
Police say the vehicle was taken sometime between the night of Aug. 30 and Aug. 31 at about 7am.
The vehicle is a white 2025 Jeep Wrangler with tinted windows, black aftermarket rims and aftermarket mud tires, with the licence plate DHJE 122.
Anyone with information about this incident 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.
Partner violence
WELLINGTON COUNTY – Local police continue to lay intimate partner violence charges across the county.
Those arrested include a 22-year-old from Palmerston, who was charged with spousal assault in relation to an incident inside a vehicle in Minto on Aug. 30.
The accused individual is to appear in Guelph court at a later date.
Boating charges
GUELPH-ERAMOSA – Police are encouraging boaters to prioritize safety on the water after laying several charges recently on Guelph Lake.
Wellington County OPP officials say police “conducted proactive marine patrol” on the lake on Aug. 29 and laid 11 charges, including:
– operating a pleasure craft (both human powered and non-human powered) without a lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board;
– permitting a person to operate a human-powered pleasure craft without a lifejacket;
– operating a vessel with an improperly marked “life-saving appliance.”
Additionally, 16 warnings were issued for failing to have required safety equipment on board, police say.
“Whether you’re operating a kayak, a fishing boat, a speed boat or a paddle board, make sure you’re equipped with all required safety equipment and that everyone on board has access to a properly fitted and approved lifejacket or PFD,” stated the OPP press release.
“If you observe unsafe boating behaviour or suspect that a vessel operator is impaired by alcohol or drugs, please call 911 immediately.”
