NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE POLICE SERVICE
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Barrie Police Service have made an arrest after a male attempting to steal a snowmobile used pepper spray on officers in an attempt to escape arrest.
On Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 at 3 a.m. a Barrie Police officer on general patrol spotted a person inside the grounds of St. Onge Recreation located at 65 Hart Dr., in the City of Barrie, driving a snowmobile.
The officer confronted the male due to the suspicious behaviour and was instantly pepper sprayed in the face. The male immediately fled on foot and the officer gave chase the best he could with limited vision.
The officer caught up with the male and he continued to resist arrest, breaking free from the officer a second time. The male ran south down Hart Drive as additional officers arrived on scene to assist.
As they approached the male, he attempted unsuccessfully to pepper spray them as well. The male was placed under arrest and repetitively provided police with a name that appeared suspicious.
Officers utilized K9 to track the path of the accused prior to police interaction and located break and enter tools as well as a 2017 GMC pick-up truck previously reported stolen from Toronto. Further investigation revealed the male was using the name and fraudulently obtained identification of this brother.
Police were able to prove a positive identification for the male as a 35-year-old Toronto male who has been charged with the following:
- Break and enter x2
- Mischief under $5,000 x2
- Possession of break in instrument
- Theft over $5,000
- Administer noxious substance x2
- Assault with intent to resist arrest x2
- Assault with a weapon
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Attempt to obstruct peace officer
- Personation with intent
- Breach of recognizance
- Breach of undertaking
- Breach of probation
Detectives in the Barrie Police Criminal Investigation Division are continuing with the investigation at this time. The accused appeared in a Barrie Court of Justice on Tuesday, Dec. 19 to answer to the initial charge of Break and Enter as detectives continued the investigation.
He was remanded and will re-appear on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 to answer to his full list of charges.
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