Category: Waterloo Regional Police

Waterloo Region, Ontario – The Waterloo Regional Police Service, with the assistance of Waterloo Fire Rescue Services and the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal have a dedicated team assigned to investigate an emerging trend of suspicious fires that have occurred in Waterloo over the past four months.

Each fire is being investigated independently; however, investigators are trying to determine if any of the incidents are related.

After further consultation, investigators are focusing on the following incidents: 

• On Saturday, October 3, 2020, at approximately 3 a.m., Waterloo Fire Rescue and WRPS responded to the area of Erb Street West and Roosevelt Avenue for a report of chairs beside a dumpster on fire. 
• On Saturday, October 10, 2020, at approximately 1 a.m., Waterloo Fire Rescue and WRPS responded to the area of Amos Avenue and Vogel Place for reports of a residential fire. 
• On Thursday, October 15, 2020, at approximately 1:50 a.m., Waterloo Fire Rescue and WRPS responded to the area of Regina Street and William Street East for reports of a mattress on fire. 
• On Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at approximately 9 a.m., Waterloo Fire Rescue and WRPS responded to the area of Columbia Street West and Spruce Street for reports of a garage fire. 
• On Monday, October 26, 2020, at approximately 6:50 a.m., Waterloo Fire Rescue and WRPS responded to the area of Lester Street and Hickory Street West for reports of a detached garage on fire. 
• On Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at approximately 2:10 p.m., Waterloo Fire Rescue and WRPS responded to the area of Northfield Drive and Conestoga Parkway for reports of a transport tractor trailer; parked in a parking lot on fire. 
• On Friday, November 6, 2020, at approximately 1:40 a.m., Waterloo Fire Rescue and WRPS responded to the area of Columbia Street West in Waterloo for a report of a garbage bin on fire. 
• On Saturday, November 7, 2020, at approximately 6:30 a.m., Waterloo Fire Rescue and WRPS responded to the area of Weber Street North for a report of a shopping cart on fire. 
• On Sunday, November 8, 2020, at approximately 3:50 a.m., Waterloo Fire Rescue and WRPS responded to the area of Albert Street for a report of a recycling bin on fire. 
• On Monday, November 9, 2020, at approximately 12:10 a.m., Waterloo Fire Rescue and WRPS responded to the area of King Street North and Columbia Street East for a report of a garbage bin and a pile of leaves on fire. 
• On Saturday, November 28, 2020, at approximately 6:15 a.m., Waterloo Fire Rescue and WRPS responded to the area of Columbia Street West for a residential fire. 
• On Saturday, November 28, 2020, at approximately 8:15 a.m., Waterloo Regional Police received a report that a tree covered in burlap was set on fire sometime overnight in the area of Fern Crescent. 
• On Thursday, December 10, 2020, at approximately 2:15 a.m., Waterloo Fire and WRPS responded to the area of Erb Street West for reports of a large recycling bin on fire. 

Waterloo Fire Rescue reminds residents and business owners to be fire safe and vigilant at all times. The public is reminded to do the following: 

• If you witness a fire incident, ensure the safety of you and your loved ones by calling 9-1-1
• Install and maintain smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas
• Ensure carbon monoxide alarms are installed adjacent to all sleeping areas of the home
• Ensure you complete a home fire escape plan with your family by knowing two (2) ways out of your home
• Lock and secure homes, vehicles, machinery/equipment and fence gates and
• Secure combustibles (such as brush, trash, recyclables and gas cans) and flammables and store them in a locked shed outside or in a locked container

Waterloo Regional Police would like to remind the public report any suspicious activity to police immediately. Anyone with information or dash camera or surveillance footage of these incidents is encouraged to call police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Publish Date: Dec 8, 2020
Incident Date: Dec 8, 2020
Location: VICTORIA ST N and FOUNTAIN ST N, WOOLWICH ON Canada

On December 8, 2020, at approximately 1:05 p.m., Waterloo Regional Police responded to reports of a serious motor vehicle collision that occurred in the area of Victoria Street North and Fountain Street North in Woolwich Township.

A motor vehicle, that was operated by an adult male from Guelph was travelling north on Victoria Street North when the driver struck two 16-year-olds that were walking along the side of the road, on the gravel shoulder from a nearby school.

The vehicle continued north until it was stopped by witnesses at Shantz Station Road. Waterloo Regional Police and the Ontario Provincial Police located the vehicle in the area of Shantz Station Road, and the driver was arrested without incident. The two youths were taken to a local hospital by Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The WRPS Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) was deployed to record the scene of the collision. Members of Waterloo Regional Police Service’s Traffic Unit are continuing to investigate the details surrounding the collision and are focusing on distracted driving and impaired driving. Charges are pending. Roadways in the area were closed until approximately 4:30 p.m.

Publish Date: Dec 7, 2020
Incident Date: Dec 6, 2020
Location: KITCHENER, ON Canada

On Sunday, December 6, 2020, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Waterloo Regional Police responded to the area of Ottawa Street South in Kitchener for a report of a robbery. The victim was approached by two unknown individuals after parking her vehicle in an underground parking garage. The suspects assaulted the victim with a weapon and then fled the scene. The victim sustained minor injuries. The first suspect is described as male, brown, approximately 20-years-old, about 5 foot 7 inches tall, with a thin build. The other suspect is described as male, brown, approximately 20-years-old, about 5 foot 2 inches tall, with a thin build. If anyone has information regarding the incident, please call Waterloo Regional Police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Publish Date: Dec 4, 2020
Incident Date: Dec 1, 2020
Location: WINTER CRT, CAMBRIDGE, ON Canada

On December 1, 2020, shortly after noon, Waterloo Regional Police responded to an address in the area of Winter Court in Cambridge for a medical call. A two-year-old male child was located in the residence and was pronounced deceased shortly after the arrival of emergency services.

Since that time, detectives from Waterloo Regional Police Service’s Major Crime Unit have been assisting the Coroner’s Office with its death investigation. The police service’s Major Crime Branch is mandated to investigate all cases of death under five years of age. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the child and are treating the death as suspicious. There will be an increased police presence in the Winter Court area throughout the day as officers continue to gather evidence.

Publish Date: Dec 3, 2020
Incident Date: Jul 14, 2020
Location: COUNTRYSIDE CRES and TUERR DR, WESTERN INTERSECTION KITCHENER ON Canada

As a result of the investigation, a 29-year-old Cambridge male has been charged with Careless Driving cause Death and Start from Stopped Position – Not in Safety. Both charges are under the Highway Traffic Act. The male was issued a summons on October 10, 2020, and will appear in court in early 2021.

PREVIOUS SUMMARY or SUMMARIES:

Published: Jul 15 2020 4:48PM
As a result of the collision, the pedestrian, unfortunately, succumbed to her injuries.

Published: Jul 14 2020 3:58PM
On Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at approximately 8:50 a.m., Waterloo Regional Police responded to the area of Tuerr Drive and Countryside Crescent in Kitchener for a collision involving a pedestrian and garbage disposal vehicle. The victim, a 68-year-old female, and her dog were walking along Tuerr Drive, crossing the road towards Countryside Crescent, when they were struck by a garbage disposal truck. The pedestrian was airlifted to an out-of-region hospital with serious life-threatening injuries. The dog sustained fatal injuries. Roads within the area were closed for approximately five hours while investigators remained on scene. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Traffic Service’s unit at 519-570-9777 ext. 8835.

Publish Date: Dec 1, 2020
Incident Date: Nov 28, 2020
Location: CAMBRIDGE, ON Canada

Waterloo Regional Police have arrested a 47-year-old Cambridge male in connection to stolen property. On November 24, 2020, two males attended a business on Barbara Street in Cambridge and allegedly used false identification to obtain a moving vehicle. On November 28, 2020, at approximately 5:40 a.m., police responded to a motel on Hespeler Road in Cambridge for a suspicious vehicle report. Reports indicated that three individuals were observed unloading items from a moving vehicle into a motel room.

The moving vehicle was gone on arrival, however, further investigation revealed that the individuals failed to return the moving vehicle after it was past due. On November 28, 2020, at approximately 10:50 a.m., police identified and located the suspect. A 47-year-old Cambridge male has been charged with a number of offences including Possession of stolen property over $5000, Possession of stolen property under $5000, Theft of motor vehicle, Fraud under $5,000, and Personation with intent. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.