MAPLETON – It might be hard to believe, but a lot of people still aren’t heeding advice and legislation on limiting public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wellington County OPP received several complaints about “a large outdoor party” in Mapleton Township on April 11 at about 11:30pm.
Police say officers responded, broke up the party and charged one person with failing to comply with an order during an a declared emergency.
The charge carries a set fine of $750 plus other costs.
Police did not immediately provide the name of the charged individual.
Asked about the omission, which marks a clear departure from regular Wellington OPP procedure, OPP spokesperson Cheri Rockefeller said she asked West Region officials about the matter.
They, in turn, are “following up with corporate” about “any changes in regards to what is being released at (the) detachment level,” she added.
Kitchener resident charged after crash
MAPLETON – A Kitchener resident is charged with careless driving after a crash here on Monday that seriously injured a Hillsburgh motorcyclist.
On April 6 at about 1:50pm emergency crews responded to a collision involving a motorcycle and sedan on Wellington Road 12 at the 4th Line of Mapleton Township.
Wellington OPP officials say an eastbound sedan and a westbound motorcycle collided when the driver of the sedan attempted to make a left hand turn in front of the motorcycle.
The driver of the motorcycle, a 57-year-old Hillsburgh man, was transported by air ambulance to a trauma centre with serious injuries.
The driver of the sedan, Phoumy Homsombath, 65, of Kitchener, was uninjured, has been charged with careless driving causing bodily harm and will appear in Guelph court on July 15.
Police continue to investigate the collision.
Mapleton man charged in gun-pointing incident
MAPLETON – A Mapleton man is facing weapon charges after a local resident claimed someone pointed a gun at them.
Wellington County OPP officials say officers responded to a firearms call at 5:20pm on April 3 at a residence on Wellington Road 10 in the Township of Mapleton.
Police say a resident was outside doing yard work when someone yelled from the road.
“When they turned around they saw a passenger in a vehicle pointing a firearm directly at them out the window,” police stated in a press release, adding a white Mazda was last seen travelling west on Wellington Road 10.
Officers patrolled the area, located the vehicle and occupants at a residence on Wellington Road 10 and seized an airsoft revolver.
Willy Braun, Bueckert, 18, of Mapleton Township, was charged with pointing a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and assault with a weapon.
He is to appear in Guelph court on July 28.
Five charged
PUSLINCH – On April 5 at about 9am Wellington County OPP responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle and persons outside a residence on Wellington Road 32.
Police say officers determined several of the occupants had outstanding warrants with other policing agencies and some were breaching court orders and undertaking.
“Further investigation revealed that the motor vehicle was stolen out of Waterloo Region and none of the occupants were licenced to drive,” police stated in a press release.
A search of the vehicle revealed break and enter tools, a prohibited weapon and a quantity of drugs including crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The following individuals were arrested and charged with various drug, weapon and other charges, and are to appear in Guelph court on July 28:
– Joseph Gilbert, 27, of Oshawa;
– Alan Stoneham, 49, of Orangeville:
– Tiffany Humphrey, 32, of Newmarket:
– Trisha Bacon, 30, of Laxton-Digby-Longford Township; and
– Shawn Varga, 31, of Bradford-West Gwillimbury.
Prohibited driver
MOUNT FOREST – On April 8 at about 2:55pm a Wellington County OPP officer investigated the male driver of a vehicle on Main Street here for a number of alleged Highway Traffic Act violations.
Police say the man was contravening three separate driving suspensions and the vehicle was uninsured with unauthorized plates.
Alexander Melvin Troup, 43, of Southgate Township, was charged with driving while prohibited, using unauthorized plates, driving without insurance and two counts of driving while suspended. He is to appear in Guelph court on July 31.
Stolen vehicle recovered
GUELPH-ERAMOSA – On April 4 at about 12:15pm the Wellington County OPP responded to a suspicious vehicle on Jones Baseline.
Police say the Mustang Drive-In Theatre gate was busted open and a lime green flatbed truck was on the property. Police add the truck was stolen out of Meaford (along with a Kubota excavator that is still missing).
Anyone with information can call police or Crime Stoppers.
