Category: Police Press Releases

(NORTH PERTH, ON) – A scary situation ended safely for one North Perth resident after someone tried to steal their car – with them inside.

The Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call on December 14 2021, at approximately 8:00 a.m., after an unknown male suspect tried to steal a car that was running while it was warming up on Monument Road, Atwood, in the Municipality of North Perth.

The suspect entered the driver’s door, and put the car in reverse. That’s when he noticed an occupant in the back seat of the car. The suspect then fled the scene, returning to the vehicle that had dropped him off. The suspect vehicle was last seen driving south towards Monkton.

There was no violence in this incident, and the adult occupant of the vehicle was not injured.

The suspect is described as:

–       Caucasian male

–       Thin

–       Scruffy face (“5 o’clock shadow”) (blond coloured)

–       Wearing a black toque, grey sweater with no hood, black track pants, and red gloves with black spots.

The suspect vehicle is similar to a silver Nissan Altima or Volkswagon Jetta.

While it is uncommon for a person to be inside of a vehicle when someone attempts to steal it, stolen vehicle occurrences are occurring frequently, and even multiple times a week in Perth County. With the cold weather upon us, the Perth County OPP would like to remind drivers to never leave a vehicle unlocked while warming it up.

Anyone with information regarding this or any incident is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or online at www.opp.ca/reporting. Should you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or leave an anonymous online message at www.P3tips.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

(WINGHAM, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is actively investigating the recent theft of a John Deere tractor stolen from an address in Wingham. 

At approximately 10:45 p.m. on Saturday, December 18, 2021 the thief entered onto a storage lot located on Josephine Street and located the tractor. The thief was able to start up the tractor and proceeded to head off travelling northbound out of Wingham. 

The stolen tractor is described as a green 2017 John Deere model 3046R with a cab. The tractor is also equipped with a yellow front mount snow blower and a green rear mounted box blade. 

The tractor is estimated to be worth $50,000.

If you have any information about this theft please contact Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 482-1677. 

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.p3tips.com , where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

(CENTRAL HURON, ON) – Two Goderich residents are facing break and enter charges and more following a recent investigation conducted by Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). 

On Friday, December 17, 2021 at approximately 1:21 p.m. Huron County OPP members responded to the former Bluewater Youth Correctional facility located on Bluewater Highway after being alerted to two suspicious persons on the property. 

Officers converged on the area and following some patrols of the area police were able to locate both suspects on Union Road. Both suspects were placed under arrest and taken into custody. 

Upon searching the one accused police located a quantity of suspected methamphetamine. The other accused was found to be failing to comply with conditions of his probation sentence.

Brent LAWRENCE, 29 years of age from Goderich has been charged with Break, Enter a Place and two counts of Fail to Comply with Probation Order. 

Lief EDWARDS, 35 years of age from Goderich has been charged with Break, Enter a Place and Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Methamphetamine. 

Both accused have since been released from custody with court appearances scheduled for February 14, 2022 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.

(HURON EAST, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers are currently investigating a break, enter and theft that took place in Brussels last week.

On Thursday, December 16, 2021 between 7:00 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. someone attended the car wash located on King Street in Brussels. Once on the premises the person responsible for the theft forced entry into a storage area and proceeded to defeat the change boxes and a bill changing machine. In addition to the loss of cash the thief also stole a computer monitor. 

If you have any information about this incident please contact Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 482-1677. 

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.p3tips.com , where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

(SOUTH HURON, ON) – A resident of Exeter will be making a trip to court to answer to an Impaired Operation charge following a collision investigation conducted by Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

Last night around 7:38 p.m. Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers responded to a rollover crash located on Grand Bend Line. Upon arrival officers located a hatchback in the westbound ditch along with three uninjured occupants. 

Upon speaking with the driver the investigating officer noted the driver had consumed some alcohol. As a result a roadside screening test was conducted and the driver registered a fail. Upon doing so the driver was placed under arrest and was transported to the Huron OPP Detachment for further testing. The driver provided two samples of his breath to the Intoxilizer Technician and both samples were found to be above the legal limit. 

Robert BROOM, 36 years of age from Exeter has been charged with Operation While Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) 80 Plus.  He has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for March 7, 2022 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.    

(BLUEWATER, ON) – A Bluewater resident is facing Impaired Operation charges and a charge of Fail to Remain following an investigation conducted by Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) this past weekend.

Just before 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 18, 2021 Huron County OPP officers responded to a single motor vehicle collision located on Goshen Line north of Zurich. Upon arrival officers located a heavily damaged compact car that had left the roadway and collided with a tree. The vehicle was left abandoned so police began searching for the driver. Shortly after officers located the driver at a residence. While speaking with the driver the investigating officer noted the driver had consumed some alcohol and was displaying several signs of impairment. 

As such the driver was placed under arrest and was taken into custody. The accused was subsequently transported to the Huron OPP Detachment where he provided two samples of breath to the Intoxilizer Technician. Two breath samples were provided and both were found to be above the legal limit. 

Jason SMALL, 34 years of age from Bluewater has been charged with Operation While Impaired, Operation While Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) 80 Plus and Fail to Remain.

He has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for February 7, 2022 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.

(BLUEWATER, ON) – A South Huron resident is facing charges after he got caught breaking into a Bluewater business at the end of November.

Just before 6:30 a.m. on November 27, 2021 an employee arrived at a business located on Bluewater Veteran’s Highway to open up shop. Upon arrival the employee observed a suspect running out of the store and taking off in a vehicle. The store was checked and it was learned the thief got away with a quantity of cash and some containers of ice cream.

Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was later contacted and following some investigation police were able to identify the suspect.   

On December 1, 2021 the accused was arrested and taken into custody. 

Michael PELLY, 40 years of age from South Huron has been charged with:

• Break, Enter a Place – With Intent to Commit Indictable Offence
• Theft Under $5,000
• Fail to Comply with Probation Order

Huron County OPP encourages citizens to always report suspicious activity, your call may help prevent a crime. 

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.p3tips.com , where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

(ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) continue to investigate a break, enter and theft that took place at a business located south of Whitechurch.

Sometime between 4:30 p.m. on December 3, 2021 and 9:00 a.m. on December 5, 2021 unknown persons defeated the padlocks and entry was made into a business located on Donnybrook Line. Once inside the shop those responsible stole an assortment of Dewalt brand power tools, several hand wrenches, socket sets, ignition keys to vehicles and a vehicle battery charger. 

If you have any information about this incident please contact Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 482-1677. 

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.p3tips.com , where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

(WINGHAM, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) including the Huron-Perth Community Street Crimes Unit (CSCU) continue to investigate a recent break enter and theft that took place in Wingham.

Investigators are hopeful they will get some tips from the public to help determine who broke into a Patrick Street West residence sometime between 8:00 p.m. on November 22 and 10:00 a.m. on November 23, 2021. 

Once inside the residence the thief stole 30 cartons of Magic trading cards. Some of these trading cards can be quite valuable due to their rarity in production and utility in game play. The value of the cards can range from pennies to thousands of dollars. 

In addition to the stolen Magic cards the thief stole a clothing hamper and a DVR recording box. 

If you have any information about this incident please contact Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 482-1677. 

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.p3tips.com , where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

(CHATSWORTH, ON) – On December 12, 2021 at approximately 3:30 p.m., the Grey Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Chatsworth Fire Department and Grey County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to a report of a vehicle rollover on Sideroad 3 in the Township of Chatsworth.

The driver of the vehicle was pronounced deceased on scene. They have been identified as Terry SPECHT, 63-years-old, from Chatsworth Township.

The OPP West Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement Team (TIME) is assisting with the investigation which remains ongoing.

(CENTRAL HURON, ON) – A resident of Clinton is facing criminal charges after he crashed into a parked police vehicle and fled the scene last weekend in Londesborough.

On Friday, December 10, 2021 at 10:45 p.m. a Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was sitting inside his parked police cruiser on Main Street in Londesborough when a southbound car collided head-on with the cruiser. Immediately after the driver of the suspect vehicle failed to stop at the scene and took off heading southbound on London Road toward Clinton.

Fortunately the officer escaped injury, however, his cruiser sustained significant damage and was not driveable. Other patrol units began searching for the suspect vehicle however the suspect vehicle was not immediately located.

The following day the suspect driver turned himself in and was arrested at the Huron OPP Detachment. The accused, James BIRD, 36 years of age from Clinton has been charged with Failure to Stop After Accident and Dangerous Operation. He has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for January 17, 2022 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.    

(NORTH PERTH, ON) – Police have arrested one individual after an investigation into vandalism at a Listowel park in November.

On December 10 2021, James GALLAN, 32, of North Perth, was arrested and has been charged with:

–       Mischief Under $5000

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charges.

The Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) began an investigation on November 18 2021, after receiving a report of graffiti spray painted around the Listowel Memorial Park, and nearby buildings, in the Municipality of North Perth.

At least four different spots were spray painted with purple and black paint, mostly derogatory and insulting words and comments.

The Perth County OPP would like to thank the public for their assistance in this investigation.

(HOWICK, ON) – A resident of Gorrie is facing an Impaired Operation – Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) 80 Plus charge following a traffic stop that took place early this morning near Gorrie.

At approximately 2:40 a.m. a Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer stopped a pickup truck on Gough Road and while speaking with the driver the officer noted the driver had been drinking alcohol. 

A roadside screen test was performed and the driver registered a fail. Upon doing so he was placed under arrest and was transported to the Huron OPP Detachment for further testing. The driver provided two samples of breath to the Intoxilizer Technician and both samples were found to be above the legal limit. 

Noodin MAWHINNEY, 21 years of age, from Gorrie has been charged with Operation While Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) 80 Plus. He has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for February 7, 2022 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. 

His licence has been suspended for an automatic 90 days and his vehicle has been impounded for 45 days.