Driving charges
FERGUS – On Dec. 6 at about 11:30am, a Wellington County OPP officer stopped the driver of a black sedan on St. David Street North here.
A 62-year-old driver from Mount Forest was charged with driving without insurance, driving while suspended, using unauthorized plates, failing to apply for a permit, and obstructing a plate.
The defendant is to appear in Guelph court on March 6.
Four Highlanders stolen
GUELPH – The Guelph Police Service is investigating after four Toyota Highlanders were stolen from the same east-end neighbourhood in a single night.
Police say only one has been recovered.
Just after 5am on Dec. 20, a resident of Summit Ridge Drive reported her 2022 Highlander was stolen from the driveway overnight. The vehicle was located a short time later near Summerfield Drive and McNulty Lane.
“A window had been smashed and part of the interior ripped apart to expose several wires. The vehicle was held for forensic examination,” police stated.
Also late on Dec. 19 or early on Dec. 20, newer-model Highlanders were reported stolen from three other streets in the same east-end neighbourhood. These vehicles are all still missing.
“An attempt was made to steal a fifth Highlander just down the street from one of the thefts,” police stated
“In that case, surveillance video caught a small black SUV and a small white SUV circling the neighbourhood, with a number of parties at times exiting the vehicles and approaching driveways.”
Two of the suspects were described as possibly females with brown skin. One was wearing a white hoodie, black facemask and grey sweatpants and had long light brown hair in a ponytail to her buttock area. The second was wearing a black hoodie with hood up, black pants and a black facemask.
Anyone with information can call Guelph Police at 519-824-1212 or leave an anonymous message for Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Festive RIDE program continues until Jan. 1
WELLINGTON COUNTY – The OPP’s Festive Ride Campaign continues until Jan. 1 and residents are encouraged to drink responsibly and avoid driving if they consume alcohol.
Officials say that during the first 33 days of the campaign (Nov. 16 to Dec. 19), West Region OPP officers:
– conducted 1,673 RIDE programs, up 15% from 1,458 at this time last season;
– laid 249 impaired driving charges, up by 19% from 210 in 2022/23; and
– issued 43 warning-range suspension, up by 30% from 33 at this time last season.
Of the 249 impaired charges in the West Region, 19 or 8% have occurred in Wellington County.
“The Festive RIDE campaign is an annual police enforcement and education initiative aimed at taking impaired drivers off Ontario roads during the holiday season,” police stated in a press release.
“During the campaign, the public can expect an increased OPP presence on West Region roads and highways as officers conduct RIDE initiatives 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the province.”
Anyone who suspects a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs should call 911 to report it, police say.
* * *
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.
