A Guelph Police officer was taken to hospital Oct. 9 after allegedly being assaulted while attending a religious establishment.
The officer was treated and released and remains on active duty.
A 23-year-old Kingston man was arrested on scene and faces several charges, including assault police officer causing bodily harm.
While not confirmed by Guelph Police, it is believed the incident took place at the mosque on Water Street.
Guelph Police did not release any information about the incident until after GuelphToday requested information about the 12-day old incident Wednesday morning. Several hours later a news release was issued.
The official release from police says that at around 1:50 p.m. on Oct. 9 a fully-uniformed frontline officer with the Guelph Police Service attended a religious establishment located near the intersection of Edinburgh Road South and Wellington Street West in the City of Guelph. The officer was confronted by an adult male.
The male was angry with police after being arrested and charged with assault with a weapon on Oct. 7 in an unrelated incident. The officer had no involvement in that investigation.
The officer attempted to de-escalate and worshipers attempted to assist the officer.
The male refused to leave and despite efforts to restrain him, the male broke free and struck the officer several times. Other officers attended the scene and the male was arrested, says the Guelph Police news release.
The man was charged with:
- assault police officer cause bodily harm
- cause disturbance
- disturbing religious worship
- fail to comply with undertaking
- fail to leave premises when directed
He was held in custody pending a bail hearing and ultimately released. He will appear in court on Nov. 20.
