Barrie & Area Crime: 1)Barrie police charge suspect in human trafficking investigation; 2)OPP traffic enforcement in the Midland area nabs drivers for a variety of offences; 3) (Updated) Convoy leaders Lich, Barber given conditional sentences in Ottawa courtroom; 4)Repeated grocery store thefts lead to 10 charges for man in Gravenhurst

1)Barrie police charge suspect in human trafficking investigation

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, October 8, 2025

A human trafficking investigation launched by Barrie police last November that allegedly involved a youth has resulted in charges against a 33-year-old man from the Greater Toronto Area.

The suspect was armed with a loaded gun when he was arrested in North Bay on Tuesday, police said.

The accused is facing the following charges:

• Assault with a weapon section (2 counts)
• Trafficking in persons – under 18
• Material benefit resulting from Trafficking in persons – under 18
• Procuring – under 18
• Material benefit from sexual services – under 18
• Utter threats to cause death
• Trafficking in a schedule I substance- cocaine
• Possession of substance – schedule I – cocaine (2 counts)
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – schedule I – cocaine
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – schedule I – fentanyl
• Possession of substance – schedule I – fentanyl (2 counts)
• Possession of firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized
• Possession of prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition
• Possession of a weapon contrary to an order (2 counts).

The accused was returned to Barrie and remains in custody pending a bail hearing on Wednesday.

Investigators believe there may be additional human trafficking victims that have not yet reported their involvement with the accused to police.

Police are urging them to contact Detective Constable Salmon of the Barrie Police Human Trafficking Unit at msalmon@barriepolice.ca or by phone at 705-725-7025, extension 2637.

2)OPP traffic enforcement in the Midland area nabs drivers for a variety of offences

Source Barrie 360

By Ian MacLennan, October 8, 2025

A lengthy list of offences recorded by Southern Georgian Bay OPP during recent traffic enforcement in the Midland area.

Police say the effort resulted in over 35 vehicle stops, with drivers receiving a combination of warnings and provincial offences act notices.

Traffic stops and patrols took place across the coverage area, including community safety zones and intersections:

The range of violations encountered by police included speeding, failure to stop for stop signs, failure to obey traffic lights, and insurance and driver’s licence issues.

Police say they continue to focus on reducing serious collisions by targeting the “Big Four” traffic-related offences:

• Impaired Driving
• Distracted Driving
• Speeding
• Seatbelt Use

3) (Updated) Convoy leaders Lich, Barber given conditional sentences in Ottawa courtroom

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By David Baxter, Oct. 7, 2025

“Freedom Convoy” leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were both given 18-month conditional sentences Tuesday for their roles in the protest that blockaded downtown Ottawa for several weeks.

Lich and Barber were found guilty of mischief in April, while Barber was also found guilty of an additional offence of counselling others to disobey a court order.

In an Ottawa courtroom packed with Lich and Barber supporters, Justice Heather Perkins-McVey sentenced Barber to 12 months of house arrest and another six months under a strict curfew.

Lich will serve 12 months of house arrest and 3.5 months under a curfew after getting credit for days spent in custody before she was convicted.

Both have a series of exemptions associated with their house arrests allowing them to work, attend medical appointments and worship services, and run errands like getting groceries.

Justice Perkins-McVey said the Crown and defence could not have been further apart on their sentencing recommendations.

The Crown sought seven years in prison for Lich and eight years for Barber, while the defence wanted absolute discharges.

Perkins-McVey said those recommendations show political and social schisms over the pandemic persist, but said her courtroom has no place for politics.

The judge said no case exactly matched the facts of this case. She cited the mischief sentences for fellow convoy organizer Pat King and for Marco Van Huigenboss — a prominent figure in the 2022 Coutts border blockade that was associated with the broader convoy protests.

King received a 12-month conditional sentence in February, but only served three months of house arrest with credit for time served pretrial.

Van Huigenboss was sentenced to four months in jail in January.

Perkins-McVey said she took into account mitigating factors, such as the lack of criminal records and attempts to mitigate the protests’ footprint by negotiating with police. She said she also had to consider the harm the convoy protest inflicted on residents and businesses in Ottawa.

The City of Ottawa estimates the three-week protest cost it about $7 million, and cost the Ottawa Police Service an additional $55 million.

Perkins-McVey said the sentences are meant to serve as a deterrent without discouraging participation in political demonstrations.

Justice Charles Hackland made similar remarks when he sentenced King.

Diane Magas, Barber’s lawyer, said the sentence was in the range of those courts have issued in similar cases.

“The judge was really clear that my client and Ms. Lich had the best intention when they came to Ottawa. It was a lawful protest,” Magas said after the sentencing.

“She found that it turned into unlawful because of the blockage of the streets. That’s what the message is — protest, but don’t block streets.”

Lawrence Greenspon, Lich’s lawyer, said his client is considering an appeal of the conviction.

“In Canada, constitutionally protected freedom of speech, which encourages peaceful assembly, must prevail over the rights of property owners, the enjoyment of property,” he said.

“That’s not an equal balance and that’s the primary basis that we’re considering for an appeal of conviction.”

Under the Criminal Code, mischief is defined in part as wilfully obstructing, interrupting or interfering with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property.

Lich and Barber were leaders of the protest that drew thousands of people and hundreds of trucks to downtown Ottawa in early 2022 in an effort to get all COVID-19 public health measures lifted.

The protest led to the federal government using the Emergencies Act for the first time on Feb. 14, and a multi-day police operation was launched days later to clear Ottawa’s core.

—With files from Bill Graveland in Lethbridge, Alta.

4)Repeated grocery store thefts lead to 10 charges for man in Gravenhurst

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Julius Hern, October 9, 2025

A string of thefts in Gravenhurst has led to one man having multiple charges to his name thanks to Bracebridge OPP.

The man was apprehended October 7th, after police responded to reports of a theft in progress at a grocery store on Edward Street a 3:40 p.m. Store staff recognized the person as the suspect from a previous theft at the store.

Officers investigated and revealed that the same man was responsible for a large theft at another Gravenhurst supermarket earlier in the day. The suspect is also alleged to have stolen thousands of dollars worth of product from Gravenhurst grocery stores on, September 8 and 17.

As a result, a 59-year-old man from Scarborough was given 10 charges: four for theft under $5,000, and six for failure to comply with probation.

He was held in custody and will appear in court in Bracebridge on Thursday for a bail hearing.