A firearm was taken off the streets in Barrie this weekend after a chase and arrest in a downtown alleyway.
On Sunday at approximately 2:12 a.m., Barrie police say they were made aware of a man who was believed to be in possession of a firearm standing on a Dunlop Street East sidewalk.
Officers approached the suspect, but he fled northbound through a nearby alleyway. He was arrested moments later after being pursued a short distance on foot by two members of the Barrie police tactical support unit.
Police say the suspect was in possession of a black satchel, which was seized by officers, and contained a fully loaded Sig Sauer 9mm firearm, cannabis, suspected cocaine, fentanyl, psilocybin, and prescription medication.
As a result of the investigation, Darieo Parkins 20, from Markham, has been charged with 11 Criminal Code offences. The charges include unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, and failing to comply with a court related release order.
The accused was remanded into custody for a video bail hearing, which is scheduled to take place today.
Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon said that despite online posts about the incident, no one was stabbed or shot, and police never entered a downtown establishment.
"Just because it's on social media doesn't mean it is true. If there was ever a threat to public safety, obviously police would deal with that in an immediate way by way of notification," Leon told BarrieToday.
"In this case, while there was a firearm located, but upon arrest, the bag it was contained in was in immediate possession of the police. There was no threat to public safety," he added.
Leon said officers responded to the incident appropriately with respect to the information they received, "at the best interest with respect to the community and themselves."
