CTV News Kitchener’s most unusual stories of the year

From the Guelph Police Service getting a written invitation to make an arrest to a floating food truck flipping over, there were certainly some odd headlines throughout 2025.

Motorcyclist with ‘come get me’ sweater arrested

It’s not often that police get an invitation to make an arrest but that is exactly what happened on May 29.

An officer with the Guelph Police Service pulled up beside a motorcycle without licence places, which had also been driving erratically on Stone Road West and Edinburgh Road South.

The motorcyclist was wearing a distinctive sweater with the words “come get me” written on the back.

When the officer told the motorcyclist to pull over but he took off, reaching speeds of approximately 120 km/h along Stone Road West.

The officer decided not to chase the suspect in the interest of public safety. Instead, investigators turned to social media to identify the rider.

Their post was viewed more than 575,000 times and several tips came in, leading to the arrest of a 20-year-old man from Guelph. He was charged with dangerous driving, flight from police, stunt driving and other offences under the Highway Traffic Act.

“Consider him ‘got,’” a release from police said.

Floating food truck tips over in Turkey Point

Partiers expect to see strange things during Pottahawk Weekend in Turkey Point, but a flipped over food truck was probably not on anyone’s 2025 Bingo card.

Big Rig Burgers were preparing to feed a hungry crowd of revelers during July’s big boat party. But things didn’t exactly go to plan after their floating food truck tipped over onto its side while it was being launched into Lake Erie, temporarily closing the marina.

“We’ve never had this situation before,” said Brad Thomson, the general manager of Macdonald Turkey Point Marina. “We’ve had boats sinking and fires and whatnot, so staff had a good indication of always first and foremost making sure they’re safe, customer safety and also environmental safety.”

No one was hurt and the water was not contaminated.

“It’s basically the shell of a Peterbilt transport truck,” Thomson explained. “There was no oil leaking in the water. The engine actually was an outboard engine. It was a self-contained plastic gas can, and it was just simply removed.”

It took about 15 minutes to pull the vessel from the water.

“We took it out in three separate pieces. That was the easiest way to inflict the least amount of damage that we could in the situation because it wasn’t like you could right it and pull it back up on the pontoon,” Thomson said.

He thanked his staff and customers in the area who helped with the marina rescue mission.

“It goes to show that the public can come together in these situations to help each other, and I just thought it was amazing.”

Fight breaks out between tow truck drivers at Cambridge collision

Waterloo Regional Police found themselves in an expected situation in July.

When officers arrived at the scene of a two-vehicle collision on Franklin Boulevard, near Mill Creek Road in Cambridge, they discovered the northbound lanes of the road had been blocked by multiple tow trucks. They also said two tow truck operators were physically fighting each other.

All told, seven tow trucks from four different companies responded to the crash, but police said none of them had been called for.

Twenty-one charges were laid under the Highway Traffic Act and Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act. One truck was also deemed to be unsafe and pulled out of service.

Under Ontario law, tow truck operators are not permitted to solicit services that have not been requested, either by a driver or by another authorized person, such as a police officer.

Pieces of the past unearthed in Paris, Ont.

As construction crews dug down in Paris, Ont., they uncovered pieces of the past that haven’t been seen in decades.

Brant County’s underground construction and sidewalk rejuvenation project, dubbed “The Downtown Dig,” continued this year.

At one point, an old structure emerged from the ground.

“The archway we see right now was actually a reconstruction of the tailrace archway around in the 1890s,” explained Steven Pinkett from the Paris Archives Team.

Researchers were aware of the millrace, a channel that carries swift currents of water to power a mill wheel. Tailraces are another part of the system that carries water away from a water wheel after the power has been generated.

“The millrace was ahead of it and was probably constructed about 1822,” Pinkett said. “The mill itself was the power for the gypsum plant – the first gypsum plant.”

Once the arch was uncovered, photos made their way to social media.

“We had an idea it was there, but to actually see it uncovered and see the interest that’s been shown has been really good,” Adam Crozier, director of corporate strategy for the County of Brant, said. “One of the encouraging things about a construction project like this is, ‘What is the heritage? What’s buried under the road?’”

One Paris resident, who spoke to CTV News in June, was actually able to get her hands on part of the past – a brick from the archway.

“I’ll probably put it in my garden somewhere,” Ginny Moore said smiling. “It’s a deep piece of history and I’m just happy to have a piece of it.”

Elmira moms follow runaway horse and buggy

A coffee run went awry for two Elmira moms in November.

The pair, identified only as Marianne and Julie, called 911 on Nov. 28 and told the operator they were following a runaway horse and buggy.

Waterloo Regional Police Service shared that call on their social media channels.

“There is a horse and buggy traveling. There’s no one in the buggy,” one of the women was heard saying. “We’re following it… we are just on an adventure trying to be helpful.”

The women described the horse as moving at a steady pace, joking that the animal seemed determined.

“I don’t know, maybe he’s really hungry and wants its treats at home.”

It’s not clear how the horse and buggy became separated from the driver, but thankfully the horse did eventually stop, and a man got out of a nearby truck and grabbed the animal before it could take off again.

“He got the horse blanket out. He kind of wiped [the horse] down a bit,” one of the women told the 911 dispatcher.

“Sounds like you guys got it all under control right now,” the dispatcher responded, laughing.

Police thanked the two women for calling 911 and guiding responders to the buggy, writing on social media: “Two moms, one runaway buggy and a horse determined to hoof it away. Pretty sure this wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card!”

Police said the owner had been at an appointment when the horse got loose.