By: Matt Weinagrden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
Chatham‑Kent Police dealt with a high volume of calls across the municipality over the past several days, with incidents ranging from assaults and threats to stolen vehicles and breaches of release orders. Several of the investigations involved areas frequently travelled by Tilbury residents, according to police reports.
In one case, officers arrested a 36‑year‑old Bothwell man after confirming he violated a Form 11 release order by sending a group text message to a woman he was prohibited from contacting. “On April 7, 2026, at approximately 21:40 hrs, the victim received a group text message from the accused,” the report states. Police later confirmed the number belonged to him, leading to a charge of failing to comply with a release order.
Police also responded to a disturbance in Blenheim where a 37‑year‑old woman allegedly threw a security camera and an ashtray at another tenant. Officers found her distressed outside the building and transported her to hospital before laying assault‑with‑a‑weapon and mischief charges.
In another investigation, an 18‑year‑old woman reported being threatened with a knife during an altercation inside a vehicle in Chatham. She escaped with minor injuries. A 23‑year‑old Chatham man now faces multiple charges, including forcible confinement, assault with a weapon and uttering threats.
Officers were also called to Sylvester Drive in Chatham, where a 53‑year‑old man was arrested after being found going through vehicles. Police say a struggle occurred before he was taken into custody and charged with theft, possession of stolen property, trespassing at night and obstructing a peace officer.
A series of additional incidents kept officers busy, including:
A 35‑year‑old Blenheim man arrested for breach of the peace after repeatedly entering and exiting a business parking lot.
A 39‑year‑old Chatham man charged with failing to comply with both a release order and probation after being found at a location he was prohibited from attending.
A 49‑year‑old Chatham woman arrested for shoplifting on Queen Street and later found to be wanted on a warrant for additional theft‑related offences.
Police also recovered a stolen vehicle in Wallaceburg within minutes of the report being filed. A 32‑year‑old Chatham‑Kent woman was arrested and charged with motor‑vehicle theft, possession of stolen property and driving while under suspension. “A search of the recovered vehicle also resulted in the recovery of property belonging to another victim,” police said.
Other calls included a threats investigation involving a 44‑year‑old Chatham man accused of making multiple threats while travelling with family, an assault on Gray Street where a woman was struck after a man knocked a hot beverage from her hand, and a Blenheim assault where a man was attacked by his roommate while in bed.
Officers also handled impaired‑driving charges in Bothwell, a mischief incident involving a false fire alarm in Wallaceburg, a police pursuit on Charing Cross Road, and an altercation at a Richmond Street drive‑thru where a 64‑year‑old man was charged with assault and uttering threats.
