MOUNT FOREST – Wellington County OPP officials are asking for help to find those responsible for two break-ins at businesses here last weekend.
The first break-in occurred sometime overnight between April 25 and 26 on Queen Street East.
“An unknown suspect(s) gained entry to the business by breaking in through a basement window. The store was ransacked, and a laptop computer was stolen,” police stated in an April 28 press release.
The second break-in occurred on April 26 at about 2:30am on Main Street South.
“A lone suspect was captured on security video. The suspect broke in through a rear door and stole cash and a ‘point of sale’ terminal,” police stated.
The suspect was wearing a dark jacket, grey hoodie, gray pants and light-coloured running shoes.
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.
“Please do not hesitate to report any suspicious activity in your neighbourhood to the police,” OPP officials stated.
Assault, threat charges
ARTHUR – An Arthur man is facing charges of assault and uttering threats in connection with an incident here last week.
Wellington County OPP officials say that on April 24 at about 2:30pm, officers were called to “a disturbance” in Arthur.
Sean Patrick Stroud, 58, of Arthur, was charged with assault and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.
He is to appear in Guelph court on May 30.
Partner violence
WELLINGTON COUNTY – Local police continue to lay intimate partner violence charges across the county.
Those arrested include:
– a 38-year-old resident of Guelph, who was charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm (spousal) and uttering threats to damage property, in relation to an incident in Guelph/Eramosa on April 21;
– a 67-year-old resident of Guelph/Eramosa, charged with assault (spousal) and assault with a weapon (spousal), in relation to an incident in Guelph/Eramosa on April 22;
– a 24-year-old resident of Palmerston, charged with two counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, in relation to an incident in Palmerston on April 23;
– a 31-year-old resident of Stratford, charged with assault (spousal), in relation to an incident in Arthur on April 24; and
– a 39-year-old resident of Palmerston, charged with assault causing bodily harm (spousal), in relation to an incident in Palmerston on April 26.
The accused individuals are to appear in Guelph court at a later date.
Seatbelt campaign
LONDON – OPP officers in 13 West Region detachments laid hundreds of seatbelt charges during an Easter long weekend traffic campaign.
The campaign, which ran from April 18 to 21, resulted in 338 seatbelt charges across the province.
Almost a quarter of those charges (76) were laid in Wellington County. The only other detachment with more charges was Grey Bruce with 133.
Police say not wearing a seatbelt “caused, or was a contributing factor, in the deaths of 60 Ontarians in collisions on OPP-patrolled roads last year.” Twenty-six of those were in West Region alone.
Along with aggressive driving, impaired driving and distracted driving, failure to wear a seatbelt is one of the OPP’s “big four” leading contributing factors to death, injury and property damage on roads and highways.
“The tragic reality is that too many lives are lost every year in collisions where seatbelts could have made the difference,” stated Inspector Mike McConnell, OPP West Region traffic and marine manager.
“West Region officers are committed to reducing these preventable deaths through ongoing education and enforcement.
“Buckling up is one of the simplest actions anyone can take to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
Driver stopped twice, facing 14 charges
PUSLINCH – An Acton driver is facing 14 charges after being stopped by police twice in one day for the same alleged infractions.
On April 21 at about 11am, OPP officers monitoring traffic on Highway 401 pulled over a commercial vehicle near a 401 service centre in Puslinch.
A 19-year-old Acton driver was charged with driving with an improperly secured load, driving with defective breaks, failing to surrender a daily inspection report and failing to display an inspection sticker.
The accused was also given warnings for two other infractions and told by police “not to transport the trailer in its current state due to safety concerns.”
Shortly thereafter, the accused was again observed by Wellington OPP officers and stopped on Townline Road in Puslinch.
The driver was charged with 10 more driving offences, including two for which he was previously warned.
The accused is to appear in Guelph court at a later date.
Breached house arrest
GUELPH – A Palmerston man faces charges after he was caught in Guelph last Friday, in violation of a house arrest sentence.
Guelph Police officers were on an unrelated call the morning of April 25 when they spoke to the man.
“Investigation revealed he was sentenced a month ago to a six-month conditional sentence of house arrest, during which he must remain in his residence, except for work and medical emergencies,” police stated in an April 28 press release.
“He was arrested for breaching his sentence. During a search officers located a driver’s licence and credit card previously reported stolen, as well as pry bars, pliers and lock-picking tools.”
A 31-year-old Palmerston man is charged with breaching a conditional sentence, possessing stolen property and possessing break-in instruments.
He was held for a bail hearing on May 2.
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Anyone with information about any of the above incidents can contact the 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.
