Police experienced large crowds but are reporting no major incidents during University of Guelph Homecoming celebrations Saturday.
Guelph police worked in cooperation with University of Guelph Campus Safety Office, City of Guelph Bylaw Enforcement, Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service and the Guelph Fire Department who all had additional resources deployed Saturday for the anticipated large crowds which typically accompany the annual celebration.
Crowds on Chancellors Way swelled throughout the afternoon and evening, reaching a peak of approximately 4,500 people. One Guelph Police Service officer was struck in the neck by a thrown object – believed to be a beer bottle – but did not report any injury.
A 22-year-old Toronto woman was arrested for four counts of assaulting police in an unrelated incident. None of the officers were injured.
Police laid a total of 21 tickets, almost all of them for possessing open alcohol in public.
Between 7 a.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday, police responded to 352 calls for service. This represents an approximate 30 per cent increase over the same time period of an average weekend.
Guelph police and Ontario Provincial Police conducted a joint RIDE program Saturday. Approximately 2,000 vehicles were stopped and six drivers asked to provide breath samples, however none resulted in impaired driving charges.
