CRIME: 1)Barrie police investigating armed robbery at south Barrie restaurant ; 2) Barrie Police try to identify suspect in assault at restaurant; 3)Man charged after vehicle crashes into wooded area in Barrie; 4) London man charged in Barrie robbery involving imitation firearm; 5) Former Blue Jays player Rich Butler, wife, charged with fraud in Ontario; 6)Unsafe commercial trailer pulled off the road in Innisfil;7) Police seek motorcyclist in Barrie road rage incident; 8)OPP intercept possible drone drop at Gravenhurst prison; 9)Two arrested in cross-Canada distraction thefts, including at least one in Barrie 10)Orillia OPP nab three drivers for speeding in school zone; 11) Wasaga Beach resident facing charges in child sexual exploitation investigation; 12) No clean getaway for car wash break-in suspects in Gravenhurst
1)Suspect from Barrie restaurant armed robbery arrested: police: Barrie police investigating armed robbery at south Barrie restaurant
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Julius Hern, October 16 & 23rd, 2026
Barrie police are investigating an armed robbery at a fast-food restaurant in the city’s south end on Wednesday night.
Around 10:20 p.m., a masked man entered the Mapleview Drive West eatery armed with what was described as a large cleaver-stye knife and demanded money from the cash register.
Two employees working the counter complied and the suspect emptied the register drawer before fleeing on foot. Police say he was last seen heading southbound on Veterans Drive.
Neither employee suffered any injuries.
Police say they subsequently set up a perimeter, assisted by the K9 unit, but attempts to track the suspect were unsuccessful.
The suspect was seen on surveillance video wearing a black face covering, a blue hoodie, grey track pants, and black running shoes.
Updated Report
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Julius Hern, October 23, 2026
Barrie police say they arrested a suspect on Thursday in connection with an armed robbery at a fast-food restaurant in Barrie on Oct. 14.
Around 10:20 p.m. on the night in question, a masked man entered the Mapleview Drive West eatery armed with what was described as a large cleaver-stye knife and demanded money from the cash register.
Two employees working the counter complied and the suspect emptied the register drawer before fleeing on foot. Police say he was last seen heading southbound on Veterans Drive.
Neither employee suffered any injuries.
Police say they subsequently set up a perimeter, assisted by the K9 unit, but initial attempts to track the suspect were unsuccessful.
Officers eventually found an individual matching the suspect description at a location on Veteran’s Drive around 11 a.m. on Thursday, taking him into custody without incident.
The 57-year-old man was charged with robbery with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and disguise with intent.
2) (Updated) Barrie Police arrest suspect in reported assault at restaurant
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 21, 2026
Updated October 21, 2026
A suspect has been arrested in connection with a reported assault on Oct. 9 at a restaurant on Prince William Way in the south part of Barrie. Police say a 28-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday
Original Story October 19, 2026
Barrie Police are looking to identify a suspect after a man was assaulted at a restaurant on Prince William Way.
Police say a man and a woman, entered the establishment shortly after 10 p.m. on Oct. 9 and approached the victim. A verbal dispute escalated when the male suspect allegedly assaulted him.
The two suspects were escorted out of the restaurant and left the area on foot with a third woman.
The 41-year-old victim was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Police describe the male suspect as being between 18 and 24 years old, approximately five-foot-seven, with a thin build and black hair.
He was wearing a black hat with a purple rim, a white and blue jacket, a grey shirt, light-coloured ripped jeans and white shoes.
Anyone with information that could help investigators identify the suspect is asked to email the lead investigator at 9922@barriepolice.ca.
3)Man charged after vehicle crashes into wooded area in Barrie
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 20, 2026
A 54-year-old man has been charged with careless driving after a vehicle left the road and crashed into a wooded area in Barrie.
Police say the collision occurred around 4:40 a.m. on June 30 on Cundles Road West, between Sunnidale Road and Coulter Street.
Emergency crews had to extricate the driver from the vehicle. He was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Police say their investigation determined the vehicle was travelling eastbound at excessive speeds in heavy rain when the driver lost control.
The vehicle left the road, crossed a sidewalk, and entered the woods, striking and knocking down several large trees. It then crossed a second pedestrian trail before coming to a stop in thick brush
“Motorists are advised to adjust their speed to road and weather conditions and obey posted speed limits. Driving according to the conditions and following the rules of the road helps keep everyone safe,” police stated in a news release.
4) London man charged in Barrie robbery involving imitation firearm
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 20, 2026
A 23-year-old London man is facing three charges in connection with a robbery involving an imitation firearm in Barrie’s east end.
Police say the robbery happened around 5 a.m. on October 15 near Sylvia Street and Bernick Drive.
A 30-year-old man was leaving his home when police say he noticed a man standing in his driveway. The suspect allegedly pointed a firearm at him, and a struggle followed.
The victim dropped his cellphone during the struggle, and the suspect took it and ran off on foot, jumping a fence into a backyard and heading toward Georgian College.
The victim was not physically injured.
Police later recovered the stolen cellphone and an airsoft gun nearby.
Investigators say surveillance video showed the suspect being picked up by a grey, four-door sedan shortly after the incident.
On Saturday, police executed a search warrant at a London address, with help from the London Police Service tactical team.
A suspect was arrested and charged with robbery with a weapon, pointing a firearm, and mischief under $5,000.
The investigation is ongoing.
Authorities have said they have reason to believe the incident may have been targeted.
Anyone with information is asked to email investigators at 4755@barriepolice.ca or 10406@barriepolice.ca.
5) Former Blue Jays player Rich Butler, wife, charged with fraud in Ontario
Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press
By Canadian Press Staff, Oct. 20, 2026.
Former Toronto Blue Jays player Rich Butler and his wife are facing fraud charges in connection with a youth baseball training program, Durham Regional Police said Tuesday.
Butler, 53, and Michelle Butler, 52, of Frankford, Ont., are each charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and uttering a forged document.
Police say families registered and paid fees for the 2025-26 Ontario Devil Rays baseball training program, with approximately $60,000 deposited into a bank account associated with the organization between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2025.
Investigators allege funds from the account were transferred to other accounts associated with the suspects and were not used for the training program.
Families were advised by email that the business was being dissolved amid a bankruptcy claim, but investigators later determined the lawyer named in the email had allegedly been included without his permission and no bankruptcy proceedings were initiated.
Rich Butler played 86 games with the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays between 1997 and 1999, batting .223 with seven home runs and 22 runs batted in.
His brother, Rob Butler, appeared in 162 games over four seasons with Toronto and Philadelphia and was on the Blue Jays team that won the 1993 World Series.
6) Unsafe commercial trailer pulled off the road in Innisfil
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 20, 2026
A Bradford man and a Keswick-based company are facing charges after South Simcoe Police say an inspection uncovered serious safety issues with a commercial truck and trailer in Innisfil.
An officer stopped the vehicle on Yonge Street on Monday afternoon after noticing an insecure load.
Police say an inspection revealed a broken suspension component that caused the trailer’s tires to come into contact with the trailer itself, creating a risk of tire failure and loss of control.
The trailer was also operating without the required brakes, and the driver could not produce the necessary documentation for the truck and trailer.
Police deemed the trailer unsafe, removed its licence plate and took it out of service.
The 46-year-old driver and the company were charged with improper brakes on a trailer operated by a commercial motor vehicle and failing to ensure performance standards were met.
7) Police seek motorcyclist in Barrie road rage incident
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 21, 2026
Barrie Police are looking for witnesses after a road rage incident involving an SUV and a motorcycle.
Police say it happened around 3:45 Sunday afternoon, in the area of Essa Road and Mapleview Drive West.
Investigators say a grey Audi SUV was heading north on Essa Road when it came up behind a slow-moving motorcycle.
The SUV driver honked and then passed the bike.
Police say as the SUV approached Mapleview Drive West, the motorcyclist pulled up to the driver’s side window and assaulted the motorist.
The driver was not injured and turned right onto Mapleview Drive West, with the motorcycle following.
Police say another interaction took place at the intersection of Mapleview Drive West and Hollyhome Farm Road.
The motorcyclist was wearing a black full-face helmet, a dark leather jacket and jeans. The bike was described as a retro-style motorcycle, black and yellow, with a yellow-and-black gas tank and a long, narrow emblem.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage to email lead investigator jminke@barriepolice.ca.
8) OPP intercept possible drone drop at Gravenhurst prison
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 21, 2026
A 27-year-old woman from Laval, Quebec has been charged after Bracebridge OPP say they intercepted possible plans to use a drone to bring contraband into a correctional facility in Gravenhurst.
Police say members of the Central Regional Emergency Response Team were patrolling the area shortly after 1 a.m. on Sunday when they investigated a suspicious vehicle parked on Barnes Road.
Police say officers found items consistent with the trafficking of contraband into the nearby Beaver Creek Institution, including a drone.
The suspect has been charged with several drug-related offences and two counts of possession of contraband before a visitor control point in a penitentiary.
9) Two arrested in cross-Canada distraction thefts, including at least one in Barrie
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 22, 2026
Two people linked to distraction thefts across Canada have been arrested, and a Barrie senior has been reunited with a stolen necklace and wedding ring.
Winnipeg Police took a 27-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman from Scarborough into custody in July as part of an investigation into distraction thefts.
The investigation continued with Windsor Police, where officers recovered a significant quantity of jewelry while executing a search warrant.
Investigators determined the pair had travelled across the country, carrying out thefts in various locations.
Police say the suspects were in Barrie between June 28 and 30. Their descriptions and the vehicle they were using matched a distraction theft reported on June 28 at a home on Lay Street.
A 75-year-old man was standing in his driveway when a late-model, dark-coloured SUV pulled up with a man driving and a woman in the passenger seat.
Police say the woman, who was described as having gold teeth, struck up a brief conversation with the senior. She offered him a necklace and, while placing it around his neck, stole the gold necklace he was wearing.
The victim’s necklace had his wedding ring attached. He didn’t realize it had been stolen until the suspects drove away.
The necklace and wedding ring were later found among the jewelry recovered by investigators.
On October 11, Barrie Police returned the items to the victim.
Police believe there may be more victims. Anyone who thinks they or someone they know may have been targeted by the suspects is asked to contact the lead investigator by email at 7430@barriepolice.ca.
10)Orillia OPP nab three drivers for speeding in school zone
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan. October 22, 2026
Orillia OPP say they caught three drivers speeding in a school zone within 35 minutes.
Police say an officer conducting speed enforcement on Wednesday stopped three motorists travelling between 55 and 70 km/h in a posted 40 km/h community safety zone.
The drivers were issued provincial offence notices for speeding.
“Community safety zones are designed areas where public safety is a top priority. These zones are commonly located near schools, daycare, playgrounds, parks, hospitals, and collision-prone areas. Provincial Offence Notices issued in these zones may carry fines that are double compared to the same offence committed outside a community safety zone,” police said in a news release.
“Safe driving is a responsibility that extends beyond school zones. Drivers should remain attentive at all times and exercise extra caution when travelling through Community Safety Zones.”
11) Wasaga Beach resident facing charges in child sexual exploitation investigation
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October22, 2026
A child sexual exploitation investigation has resulted in charges against a 33-year-old Wasaga Beach resident.
The Ontario Provincial Police Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, with assistance from Peel Regional Police, executed a search warrant at a Wasaga Beach home on June 23 and seized several electronic devices.
Police say the accused was arrested Sept. 12.
The suspect has been charged with two counts each of possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material, one count each of making and accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material, and one count of voyeurism.
The accused is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 27.
12) No clean getaway for car wash break-in suspects in Gravenhurst
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 22, 2026
Four people face charges following an early-morning break-in at a car wash in Gravenhurst.
Bracebridge OPP say officers were called to the business on Talisman Drive around 5:45 Tuesday morning.
Police say the caller provided information that allowed officers to arrest four people nearby.
A 26-year-old woman from West Grey Township, two men in their 40s from Huntsville and a 56-year-old Kitchener man were each charged with possession of break-in instruments, trafficking methamphetamine, mischief and possessing credit card data.
The Kitchener suspect also faces two additional charges of possessing property obtained by crime under $5,000.