A road-rage incident sparked a police chase, and subsequent arrest, along with drug and weapons charges on Sunday morning.
At 9:16 a.m. on Jan. 7, Barrie police received a call about an incident that occurred in the northbound lanes of Highway 400, south of Bayfield Street, involving a small blue car and a pickup truck.
“The car made an abrupt manoeuvre which caused the driver of the pickup to brake quickly in order to avoid a collision,” Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon said in a news release Monday morning.
“As both of the involved motor vehicles exited the highway at Bayfield Street, a second incident occurred on the off-ramp, where the driver of the small blue car reversed and almost struck the driver of the pickup,” he added.
Police said the road-rage incident continued as both vehicles entered into a parking lot located on the southwest corner of Bayfield and Grove streets.
“The driver of the pickup was forcibly removed from his truck and assaulted, and an attempt was made to steal the truck,” said Leon. “The unsuccessful attempt was thwarted and the blue passenger car sped away westbound on Grove Street, only to be observed and stopped by police on Toronto Street.”
Police were dealing with the driver, a 26-year-old Barrie man, and the passenger, a 21-year-old Toronto man, when both ran from the vehicle, and a short foot chase ensued.
Both males were taken into custody and "significant quantities" of suspected fentanyl and cocaine were seized.
While arresting the passenger, a fully loaded firearm was also located, Leon said.
Both males were transported to Barrie police headquarters where the investigation continued.
The driver and passenger have been jointly charged with mischief, uttering threats, assault, attempted robbery, possession of Schedule I substance (cocaine), possession of Schedule I substance (fentanyl), possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl), and possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine).
Police said the driver is also facing charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle and resisting a peace officer, while the passenger is facing a “slew of firearms and weapons-related charges.”
Both men were held for a bail hearing that occurred late yesterday, and have since been remanded into custody.
None of the allegations have been tested in court.
