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Man accused of monument vandalism arrested picking up vehicle

Suspect, 43, charged with five counts of mischief under $5,000 and two counts of mischief relating to war memorials
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Barrie police investigate spray paint vandalism reported at Military Heritage Park in March 2023

After more than a month of avoiding arrest, police have charged a suspect in connection to a string of vandalism that included targets such as local military memorials.

Between March 11 and April 17, Barrie police investigated seven incidents that have involved a person using black spray\-paint at various locations throughout the city.

Targeted locations of what police have called "despicable" acts of mischief include a business on Veterans Drive, new home construction sites on Mapleview Drive East, a federal government building on Owen Street, an elementary school on Prince William Way. 

Two of the other occurrences involved spray-painting monuments at Military Heritage Park on Lakeshore Drive and at the downtown cenotaph at Memorial Square on Dunlop Street.

Terrence Alexander, 43, of Barrie, has been arrested and charged with five counts of mischief under $5,000 and two counts of mischief relating to war memorials.

The accused was arrested Wednesday night after investigators say he attended Barrie Police Headquarters on Fairview Road to pick up his vehicle, which had been seized by police as a result of the initial investigation.

Barrie police communications co-ordinator told BarrieToday it was the public and hard-working investigators that led to the arrest.

“The investigators never stopped trying to find this person and the public, mainly due to the disgust that someone would desecrate monuments that honoured those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” Leon said.

“It's also local businesses who don’t need the cost of cleaning and are busy as it is, but stayed alert and called police with any information they had," he added. 

The accused is scheduled to appear in a Barrie on Wednesday, May 31.

None of the allegations have been tested in court.