Barrie police are investigating a suspicious incident from Wednesday while keeping a close eye on similar incidents south of the city.
At approximately 9:30 p.m. last night, city police responded to a report of a suspicious incident which began in the downtown area and ended in the area of Bradford Street and Vespra Road.
Two adult females walking west on Dunlop Street from the Five Points said they noticed a man in what they described as a black Dodge Ram pickup truck staring at them.
The victims reported the truck would drive by them slowly, stop ahead and wait for them to pass and repeat this strange sequence of events.
As the women approached the Dunlop Street and High Street construction area, they turned left onto High Street and continued southbound onto Bradford Street.
The driver of the pickup then manoeuvred around the construction zone and eventually parked in front of the former Prince of Wales School. At that point he began shouting at the women.
Barrie police communications coordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday the behaviour frightened the women who fled into an establishment.
“This was odd behaviour to begin with, even before the man began shouting at the women,” said Leon. “They ran to the Tim Hortons in front of Barrie By The Bay (80 Bradford St.) and the man left, last seen going west on Vespra Street.”
Leon said city police have been in contact with South Simcoe Police as the incident mirrored two incidents from their region.
On Monday, June 7 at approximately 2:30 p.m., South Simcoe police responded to a suspicious person report in the Lockhart Road and Crescent Road area.
An 11-year-old boy playing in front of a home was approached by a man in a pickup truck. The child ran into the house to alert a family member who called the police. The boy was unhurt.
Later that evening, police were called about another suspicious person incident that occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. in the area of Ewart Street and Killarney Beach Road.
A 23-year-old woman reported that she was approached by a suspicious man in a pickup truck as she and a friend were walking. The man unsuccessfully tried to engage the young women in a conversation and then drove away.
The man in both incidents is described as white, possibly in his 50s, with short grey hair, grey goatee, and wearing a baseball style hat.
The vehicle in both incidents is described as a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck.
“There were definitely some commonalities between the reports and we’re aware of theirs and they are now aware of ours,” said Leon. “We aren’t saying all of them are related, but certainly the way the driver engaged the people involved and the type of truck being described, we are keeping an eye on the situation.”
The suspect in the Barrie incident is described as:
- male white
- in his 40's to 50
- average build
- wearing glasses
- clean shaven
- light brown hair with buzz cut
- light blue or grey t-shirt.
“This is exactly why it is so important to call us when you feel unsafe or when something like this happens,” said Leon. “There may be other people out there who have experienced a similar incident and we can start to piece it together.”
If anyone recognizes the description of this male or the pickup truck involved, you are encouraged to contact the Barrie Police by emailing the investigating officer Constable Curtis Fisher at [email protected] or you can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave an anonymous tip online at www.p3tips.com.
