Media Release – February 19, 2026

Sexual assault, indecent act charges

A Guelph man is charged with sexual assault and committing an indecent act after two women independently came forward to report incidents Wednesday.

A woman in her 50s attended the police station and reported she met a man known to her early Wednesday morning and the two were able to enter a downtown business, where the man exposed himself. The victim was afraid and left the area.

A second woman in her 50s also attended the police station Wednesday and reported the same man had touched her inappropriately earlier that morning.

Just before 4 p.m. a 37-year-old Guelph man was located downtown and arrested for sexual assault and committing an indecent act. He was held for a bail hearing Thursday. (Occurrence number GU26011176)

Man involved in two collisions in stolen vehicles

A Guelph man faces several charges after he was involved in two separate collisions while driving stolen vehicles Wednesday.

Just after 3 p.m. police were called to a collision on Stevenson Street North, where a Honda Odyssey had left the road and struck a tree causing minor damage. Officers learned a witness had transported the driver to an address downtown to get help.

Investigation revealed the van had been stolen earlier in the day from an address in the south end. Just after 4 p.m. officers located a 23-year-old Guelph man downtown and he was arrested for possessing stolen property over $5,000, occupying a vehicle without consent, driving while prohibited and breaching a probation order. He was released with an upcoming court date.

At 11:35 p.m., approximately two hours after the man was released from custody, police were called for a report of a stolen vehicle on Macdonell Street. Investigation revealed a Toyota had been left running while the owner went into a business. While inside he saw a male and female getting into the car.

The owner ran outside and grabbed the door handle, but the driver reversed and struck a bus before nearly striking the owner and fleeing the area.

Early Thursday morning the vehicle was located in another jurisdiction and both parties were arrested.

The man will be returned to Guelph to face additional charges including theft of motor vehicle, dangerous driving and failing to stop after a collision. (Occurrence numbers GU26011212, GU26011294)

Guelph man arrested in stolen vehicle spree

A Guelph man has been arrested in connection with a spree of stolen vehicles late last year.

The afternoon of December 10, a Toyota Camry was stolen from in front of a Stone Road West pizza shop while the owner – a delivery driver – was inside preparing his next order.

On December 15, a Lexus stolen a day earlier from Halton Region was parked and abandoned at the pumps of a gas station near Gordon Street and Kortright Road. A man and woman were observed on security video exiting the car and going in opposite directions.

The man was then caught on video stealing a Toyota Camry which had been left running outside a nearby coffee shop and picked up the woman nearby.

The Guelph Police Service Break Enter Auto Theft Unit began an investigation and identified suspects. In late December two people were seen leaving a Cambridge address and getting into a Nissan Pathfinder which had been stolen from London. The next day one of them was observed by police in the driver’s seat of a Toyota Rav4 which had been stolen from Kitchener.

A 26-year-old Cambridge man and 20-year-old Cambridge woman were arrested in December for motor vehicle theft and possessing stolen property charges.

As a result of the ongoing investigation, officers executed a search warrant Wednesday evening at an address near Woolwich Street and Speedvale Avenue. A 40-year-old Guelph man is charged with motor vehicle theft, driving while prohibited and several counts of possessing stolen property over and under $5,000. He was held for a bail hearing Thursday.

The Guelph Police Service encourages residents to take steps to protect themselves from auto theft. This can include parking indoors when possible or in well-lit areas, ensuring vehicle doors and windows are closed and locked, employing anti-theft devices to prevent vehicles from being started or steered and using devices to block signals from electronic keys. Please report suspicious activity around unattended vehicles, especially during overnight hours. (Occurrence number GU25082918)

Total calls for service in the last 24 hours - 223