ARTHUR – Police have charged a Wellington North man with sexual assault after an incident at a grocery store here and following resident reports of a suspicious person hanging around the local splashpad and area parks and schools.
On June 19 at about 6:30pm, Wellington County OPP responded to what police are calling “a disturbance” at an Arthur business.
“It was reported that a bystander currently had a person subdued after they were observed sexually assaulting the victim,” police stated in a June 22 press release.
Residents have told the Advertiser the incident occurred at the Arthur Foodland.
Witnesses also reported that over several days this week, a man was seen driving erratically around Arthur, “staring” at women and children at the Arthur Splash Pad, and hanging around other areas frequented by children, such as local parks and schools.
Wellington OPP confirmed police did respond to “reports of a suspicious person in Arthur” on June 21.
“Officers attended and investigated and determined that no criminal offence had occurred at that time,” OPP spokesperson Jacob Unger stated in a June 22 email to the Advertiser.
Deven Latchford, 44, of Wellington North, was charged with sexual assault and uttering threats in connection with the June 19 incident at the Arthur Foodland.
Police say he was held pending a bail hearing.
The OPP noted anyone needing support following a sexual assault can access the following resources:
- Victim Services Wellington, 519-824-1212;
- Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care and Treatment Centre, 519-837-6440; and
- Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis, 519-836-1110 or 1-800-265-7233.
