Police beat: Harassment charge

Harassment charge

ELORA – Police aren’t providing many details about a recent harassment charge against a Fergus resident in connection with what appears to be stalking-like behaviour involving  an Elora family.

On Nov. 10 Wellington County OPP officers announced a 35-year-old resident of Fergus was charged with criminal harassment (beset and watch person known to complainant).

“Wellington County OPP would like to remind everyone that watching, following, and taunting another person, that results in that person fearing for their safety, could be a criminal offence,” police stated in a press release.

“If this has happened to you, supports are available.”

OPP spokesperson Josh Cunningham told the Advertiser the accused Fergus resident is not being identified “out of respect for the privacy of the (victims’) family.” He added, “Due to the evidentiary nature of the details we will not be elaborating further.”

Under the Criminal Code, “watching” a place is defined as observing it with continuous attention, while “besetting” a place means to be present at or near it in a troubling way.

A criminal harassment charge can be laid if the victim(s) “fear for their safety or the safety of anyone known to them.”

Anyone with information about this incident can contact the Wellington County OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Opioid charges

WELLINGTON NORTH – Two county residents face drug charges after a traffic stop here last week.

Wellington County OPP officials say an officer stopped the driver of a white sedan on Highway 6 in Wellington North on Nov. 9 at about 3:30am.

Tyler James Troup, 24, of Harriston, was charged with possession of a Schedule 1 substance (opioid other than heroin) and breach of recognizance. 

Lisa Christine Graham, 26, of Wellington North, was charged with possession of a Schedule 1 substance (opioid other than heroin) and failing to comply with a release order. 

They are to appear in Guelph court at a later date. 

More drug charges

GUELPH – A Belwood-area man faces several charges after more than $28,000 worth of drugs were seized during a traffic stop here.

On Nov. 8 at about 4:35pm Guelph Police officers were patrolling on Speedvale Avenue East when they saw a pickup truck in a parking lot with a licence plate that had been reported stolen.

Police say that during a search officers seized quantities of suspected fentanyl, crystal methamphetamine and cocaine. Also seized was a digital scale, a spring-loaded knife and suspected stolen property including laptop computers, licence plates and identification. 

A 45-year-old East Garafraxa man was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, obstructing police, three counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and four counts of possession of stolen property (Guelph Police do not provide the names of those charged). 

He was held for a bail hearing the next day.

Dog falls out of ORV

PALMERSTON – A Palmersaton driver has been charged after a dog fell out of a “side-by-side” off-road vehicle (ORV) and onto the road.

Wellington County OPP officials say an officer was conducting patrols in Palmerston on Nov. 8 when they saw a side-by-side on Main Street East with three dogs in the back.

“While the vehicle was in motion, one of the dogs fell from the rear of the vehicle and landed on the roadway,” police stated in a press release. “Thankfully the dog was unharmed.”

A 28-year-old from Palmerston was charged with having an insecure load. 

Child porn charges

GUELPH – A Guelph man faces child pornography charges after police executed a search warrant in the south end of Guelph on Nov. 8.

A 22-year-old Guelph man who resides at the residence was arrested and charged with possessing child pornography, distributing child pornography and accessing child pornography.

He was subsequently released with conditions and a court date of Dec. 30.

Police look to identify man who ‘grabbed’ girl

GUELPH – Police here are investigating a report of an unknown man grabbing a 10-year-old female while she was walking her dog.

“The girl’s dog scared this man off, possibly biting one of his arms,” states a Nov. 14 press relase from Guelph Police Service. 

Police say the incident occurred on either Oct. 29 or 30, sometime between 1:30 and 5:30pm in the townhome complex at 106-266 Scottsdale Drive in Guelph.  

“The male was last seen running along the fence line behind units 238-254 heading towards Scottsdale Drive,” police stated.

The man is described as white with tanned skin, between 5’7” and 5’10”, 40 to 50 years of age, bald with some grey or white hair, wearing blue jeans, a black hoody, black and white shoes, and grey and white gloves.

Anyone with information can contact Detective Constable Mike Gatto at 519-824-1212 ext. 7253 or email mgatto@guelphpolice.