Category: Police Press Releases

(MEAFORD, ON) – On June 30, 2021, the Grey Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Community Street Crimes Unit (CSCU) with the assistance of the OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT), OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU), OPP Canine Unit, OPP Aviation Services, OPP Provincial Assets and Forfeiture Unit, and the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Team executed a search warrant on a property located in the Municipality of Meaford.

As a result of the investigation, seven individuals were arrested and are facing the following charges:

Xiuqing CHEN, 57 years-of-age, of no fixed address

• Cultivate, propagate or harvest any cannabis plant at a place that is not their dwelling house, and
• Possession for the purpose of distributing.

Rong Zhuo GUAN, 63 years-of-age, of Scarborough, Ontario

• Cultivate, propagate or harvest any cannabis plant at a place that is not their dwelling house, and
• Possession for the purpose of distributing.

Chundi HUANG, 42-years-of-age, of Toronto, Ontario

• Cultivate, propagate or harvest any cannabis plant at a place that is not their dwelling house, and
• Possession for the purpose of distributing.

Cheronna Man KWAN, 29-years-of-age, of Markham, Ontario

• Cultivate, propagate or harvest any cannabis plant at a place that is not their dwelling house, and
• Possession for the purpose of distributing.

Wen QIU, 60-years-of-age, of Markham, Ontario

• Cultivate, propagate or harvest any cannabis plant at a place that is not their dwelling house, and
• Possession for the purpose of distributing.

Lai Kiu TAM, 60 years-of-age, of Scarborough, Ontario

• Cultivate, propagate or harvest any cannabis plant at a place that is not their dwelling house, and
• Possession for the purpose of distributing.

So How FONG. 58 years-of-age, of Scarborough, Ontario

• Cultivate, propagate or harvest more than four cannabis plants, and
• Possession for the purpose of distributing.

A search of the property resulted in the seizure of 11,309 illegal cannabis marihuana plants, as well as numerous other offence related assets. The total value of the property seized is estimated at approximately $12,150,830.

The individuals are scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Owen Sound on July 29, 2021

(TOWNSHIP OF GUELPH-ERAMOSA, ON) – The Wellington County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Crime Unit has laid charges against a Guelph resident following an investigation into a report of an indecent act that occurred at the Guelph Lake – GRCA property on June 9, 2021 between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

It was reported that the victim was sitting on a secluded beach when she was approached by an individual who engaged in an indecent act.

The incident was reported to police, the suspect was identified and as a result, Karl Victor JANZEN, 50-years-old of Guelph has been charged with Sexual Assault, Indecent Act and Breach of Probation contrary to the Criminal Code.

Investigators believe that there are more victims.

Any person with information regarding this incident or one similar is asked to contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip on-line at www.csgw.tips. You may be eligible for a reward from Crime Stoppers of up to $2,000.

(BLUEWATER, ON) – A teenager from the Municipality of Bluewater is facing three criminal charges following an investigation conducted by Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) late last night.

At approximately 10:26 p.m. on June 28, 2021 Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers received a call in Bluewater requesting assistance in locating a youth that had just taken the family vehicle and was operating it while under the influence of alcohol. Officers also learned the involved youth was currently bound by a curfew condition. 

Prior to arriving on scene the youth had returned home with the vehicle however upon speaking with the youth police had reason to believe the driver had been consuming alcohol.  As such, a roadside test was completed and the driver registered a fail. Further testing was completed and the driver registered two breath samples above the legal limit.  

A 17-year-old youth from Bluewater was taken into custody and has been charged with: Operation While Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration 80 plus and two counts of Failing to Comply with a Release Order. 

The accused remains in custody with a bail hearing scheduled for later today.

(CENTRAL HURON, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has laid charges against a resident of Goderich after he was caught stealing two bicycles from the Huron OPP Detachment outdoor compound.

The matter began on June 24, 2021 when the accused was earlier taken into police custody on some unrelated criminal charges. The accused was later released from custody and within the hour of his release he re-offended. 

A witness contacted police to report there was a suspect stealing a bicycle from the Huron OPP Detachment outdoor compound. Officers immediately began patrolling for the suspect and moments later they located the same suspect they had just released. The subsequent investigation revealed the accused had damaged the exterior wooden fence around the compound and had taken two bicycles from the compound. Officers were able to recover both of the stolen bicycles.

Aaron WEDGE, 30 years of age, of Goderich has been charged with Break, Enter a Place to Commit an Indictable Offence and three counts of Fail to Comply with Probation Order. The accused remains in custody with a court appearance scheduled for June 29, 2021 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. 

(HURON EAST, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has laid charges against a driver and two passengers following a traffic stop that took place in Brussels earlier this week.

On June 27, 2021 at approximately 4:48 p.m. a Huron County OPP officer stopped a two-door car on Turnberry Street in Brussels. Upon stopping the vehicle police determined one of the passengers was wanted for offences from South Bruce OPP. As such he was placed under arrest and taken into custody. Upon searching the accused he was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine.

Richard HOWALD, 61 years of age from Lucknow has been charged with Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Methamphetamine. He was later released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for August 29, 2021 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.

The subsequent investigation revealed a female passenger in the vehicle was on conditions to have no contact with the other passenger in the vehicle. The female passenger also obstructed police as she falsely identified herself numerous times. Further, when she was taken into custody she was found to be in possession of suspected crack cocaine.

Jodi SIMPSON, 45 years of age from Townsend has been charged with Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Cocaine, Obstruct Peace Officer and Fail to Comply with Release Order – Seven Counts. The accused remains in custody with a court appearance scheduled for June 30, 2021 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.  

Upon searching the vehicle officers found open alcohol contained inside. The driver was subsequently charged with offences under the Liquor Licence Act and the Highway Traffic Act.   

(CENTRAL HURON, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has laid criminal charges against a pair of copper wire thieves following an investigation conducted earlier this week.

On June 27, 2021 at 9:41 p.m. Huron OPP officers were first alerted to a suspicious vehicle that was parked on private property adjacent to the former Bluewater Youth Corrections facility. Following some investigation police had reason to believe the individuals connected to the vehicle were engaged in stealing items from the facility. 

Later the next morning police located two suspects in the vicinity of the facility and they were both found to be in possession of copper piping, copper wire and break-in tools. 

Kaylyn HUGHES, 21 years of age from Middlesex Centre has been charged with: Break, Enter Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of Break-in Instruments, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000, Fail to Comply with Probation Order – Two Counts and Fail to Comply with Release Order. 

The accused has been remanded into custody with a court appearance scheduled for today at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. 

Robert SCHOCKAERT, 32 years of age from Norfolk County has been charged with: Break, Enter Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of Break-in Instruments and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000. He was later released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for August 16, 2021 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.

(DAWN-EUPHEMIA TOWNSHIP, ON) – On June 18, 2021 at 5:20 p.m., members of the Lambton County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were contacted regarding a suspicious person at a storage facility in Dawn-Euphemia Township.

Officers attended and surrounded the property until an OPP Canine Unit (K9) arrived. While searching the area, General Service Dog (GSD) “Blitz” located the individual who was taken into custody.

Brendan RECKER, 33-years-old of Brooke-Alvinston has been charged with:

• Possession break in instruments.

The accused has been released and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice-Sarnia at a later date.

If you have information on this event or any other crime activity in the area, contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or *OPP (677) on your mobile phone. Your call could make our communities safer for all. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or submit a tip online at www.sarnialambtoncrimestoppers.org where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

(HOWICK, ON) – A Howick Township resident will have to answer to Impaired Operation and Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 Plus) Charges in criminal court following a recent investigation conducted by Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). 

On June 24, 2021 at approximately 8:47 p.m. Huron OPP officers responded to a residence located on Perth Road 178 to investigate an unwanted and intoxicated person at the premise. Upon arrival officers spoke to a witness whereupon they learned the unwanted person had been operating a motor vehicle just prior to police arriving on scene. 

A Huron OPP officer spoke with the individual and upon doing so several signs of impairment were observed. As a result the driver was placed under arrest for Impaired Operation and was transported to the Listowel OPP Detachment for breath tests. Two breath samples were analyzed by the Intoxilizer Technician and both tests were found to be over the legal limit.

Bryce TAYLOR, 46 years of age from Howick Township has been charged with Operation While Impaired & Operation While Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration 80 Plus. The accused now has a court appearance scheduled for July 19, 2021 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.   

(SOUTH BRUCE PENINSULA, ON) – On June 27, 2021, at approximately 11:00 p.m., Grey Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted a traffic stop on a motor vehicle travelling on Highway 6, in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula.  

The driver was arrested and transported to the Grey Bruce OPP detachment, where further tests were administered. The passenger of the motor vehicle was also arrested after the discovery of a suspected controlled substance.

Grey Bruce OPP have charged Zachary VANSCHALKWYK, 21 years-of-age, from Owen Sound, Ontario with the following offences:

• Operation of a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and drugs,
• Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), and
• Possession of a schedule I substance.

Grey Bruce OPP have also charged Aidan WILLIAMSON, 21-years-of age, from South Bruce Peninsula with:

• Possession of a schedule I substance

Both accused are scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Owen Sound on August 5, 2021.

(MORRIS-TURNBERRY, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has laid charges against a pair after they got caught trying to flee in a stolen All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV).

On Saturday, June 19, 2021 at approximately 8:00 a.m. officers received a call from a land owner on Brussels Line that reported someone had just been on the property and had stolen their ATV. The victim reported they could hear the machine behind their property in the woods. Officers quickly responded to the area and before long they observed the suspects driving across a field of crops. Sensing there was a possibility the fleeing suspects were going to get stuck one of the officers gave chase on foot and was able to catch up to the suspects when they later became stuck in a shallow waterway. Both the driver and passenger were placed under arrest and taken into custody. 

While dealing with the driver the investigating officer noted the driver was displaying several signs that he was impaired by a drug. As a result he was further placed under arrest for Impaired Operation and was assessed by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). Upon completing the assessment, the DRE formed the opinion the driver was indeed impaired by a drug.  Additional checks also revealed the driver was currently a prohibited driver and was serving a probation sentence. 

Upon searching the accused parties they were found in possession of a stolen nail gun and a stolen wallet.

Victor JOHNSON, 34 years of age from Morris-Turnberry has been charged with:

·        Theft Under $5,000

·        Mischief Under $5,000

·        Operation While Prohibited

·        Operation While Impaired

·        Fail to Comply with Probation Order – 2 counts

Jess MCCABE, 23 years of age from Elmira has been charged with:

·        Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 – 3 counts

·        Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Opioid.

Both accused have since been released from custody with court appearances scheduled for July 12, 2021 and August 9, 2021 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.