CRIME: 1)(Updated) Frank Stronach found guilty on two charges related to two women in sex assault trial; 2)2 bike theft arrests, third man nabbed at Bike Rodeo in Bradford; 3)Toronto police arrest outstanding suspect in U.S. consulate shooting; 4)Double the speed limit, allegedly impaired, OPP charge Barrie resident; 5)OPP charge Barrie man in alleged rideshare sexual assault; 6)(Updated) Guns-for-hire networks behind Toronto shootings, including at U.S. Consulate: police; 7)Stolen SUV at Georgian Mall: Barrie Police asking for dash‑cam footage; 8) OPP investigating new reports of hate-motivated materials in Orillia; 9): Foul play suspected after woman’s remains found in Thornton: OPP; 10)OPP lay arson charge after investigation into March fire in Wasaga Beach; 11) Road Rage incident in Barrie leaves teen injured; Police seek witnesses; 12)(Updated) Police allege 12-year-old boy hit Toronto officer with stolen vehicle; 13)Orillia man charged after caught going 70 km/h over posted limit on Highway 11; 14) Gravenhurst man fined after improper wildland burn spread to nearby cottages

1)(Updated) Frank Stronach found guilty on two charges related to two women in sex assault trial

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Paola Loriggio, June 19, 2026.

Frank Stronach arrives at a Toronto courthouse on June 19, 2026, the day he was found guilty on two charges in his sexual assault trial.

Billionaire businessman Frank Stronach, who was accused of sexually assaulting several women decades ago, has been found guilty of sexual assault and indecent assault.

Stronach, who is 93, showed no reaction as the verdict was read in a Toronto courtroom Friday morning.

The founder of the auto parts giant Magna International had pleaded not guilty to 12 charges stemming from alleged incidents involving seven complainants. The allegations spanned from the late 1970s to the 1990s.

The trial started in February, and by the time arguments wrapped up in April, prosecutors had withdrawn one charge and agreed Stronach should be found not guilty on four more.

Billionaire businessman Frank Stronach, who was accused of sexually assaulting several women decades ago, has been found guilty of sexual assault and indecent assault in connection with two women. (June 19, 2026)

The judge overseeing the case, Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy, then said she couldn’t convict the businessman based on the evidence of one of the remaining complainants, whose account she found unreliable.

That left Stronach with five charges related to three complainants.

One of the three women was a former employee at Rooney’s, the popular restaurant and nightlife complex Stronach owned at the time, while the other two said they first encountered him at the venue.

In a hearing Friday, Molloy found him guilty on two charges related to two complainants: sexual assault toward the former employee and indecent assault toward a woman who frequented Rooney’s in the 1970s.

The former employee testified that she agreed to meet Stronach for dinner one evening in the early 1980s after reaching out to him for information on her termination from Rooney’s.

Over dinner at a restaurant, Stronach felt like a “fatherly mentor,” but the woman said she felt uncomfortable when he asked her to come see his nearby condo afterward.

She felt her heart pounding almost immediately after going into the unit, she testified. When she insisted on leaving, Stronach helped her put on her coat, groping her in the process, she said. The woman said he ran his hands up and down her body, touching her breasts and hips.

The woman left, and days or weeks later she received a call offering her a job interview at Magna International, the company Stronach founded in the 1950s, she said. She ended up working at the company for several years but didn’t work directly with Stronach, she said.

The woman Stronach was found to have indecently assaulted testified that she was a regular at Rooney’s and had seen him there frequently. One night in 1977, they had a lobster dinner at the restaurant then Stronach invited her to see his apartment, she said.

Once inside the apartment, Stronach disappeared for a few minutes, then the woman felt a push that put her over the arm of an armchair, she said. Stronach lifted up her skirt and she could feel his erect penis against her underwear like he was trying to penetrate them, she said.

The woman said she eventually freed herself by standing up, then took her coat and purse and left. She didn’t recall anyone speaking.

Molloy found Stronach not guilty of the charges related to the final remaining complainant, who alleged Stronach raped her in his condo after a dinner date in the early 1980s.

“There were too many uncertainties about the incident alleged by (the woman) for me to be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt as to Mr. Stronach’s guilt of the violent rape she described,” Molloy said.

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for September.

Stronach also faces a separate trial on similar charges in Newmarket, Ont., which is now set to take place next May.

2)2 bike theft arrests, third man nabbed at Bike Rodeo in Bradford

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, June 19, 2026

South Simcoe Police recovered two stolen bicycles and made multiple arrests, and also nabbed a third person wanted on warrants from other police services as he rode a bicycle in a parking lot in Bradford where police were hosting their annual Bike Rodeo.

A day of stolen bikes in Bradford West Gwillimbury led to multiple arrests and the recovery of two bicycles.

South Simcoe Police received a call on Thursday about a bike that had been stolen that morning, followed by a report of a person seen riding a bike that had been reported swiped earlier in the week in the area of Holland Street West.

By mid-afternoon, police spotted a man on Holland Street East riding a bike that matched the one stolen earlier that morning.

A 55-year-old Brampton man was arrested and charged with theft under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime.

While officers were arresting the individual, a second man rode past on another bicycle that had been reported stolen earlier in the week. As a result, a 55-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested and charged with the same offences as the Brampton suspect.

Both recovered bikes were returned to their owners, and police added that one of the victims was a young teen who had saved money to purchase and accessorize the bicycle.

The other bike caper happened later that day during the South Simcoe Police Service’s annual Bike Rodeo at Canadian Tire on Holland Street West.

Officers noticed a man riding through a parking lot carrying a large duffel bag, and they recognized him as matching a suspect wanted on outstanding warrants from York Regional Police and North Bay Police.

A 58-year-old Bradford man was arrested on the strength of the warrants.

3)Toronto police arrest outstanding suspect in U.S. consulate shooting

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Rianna Lim, June 18, 2026

A 19-year-old outstanding suspect in the U.S. consulate shooting in Toronto last March has been arrested, police announced Thursday, as officers continue to investigate a pattern of shootings across the city allegedly orchestrated by gun-for-hire networks.

Police said they were called to the U.S. consulate on University Avenue the morning of March 10 after two suspects allegedly fired multiple shots at the building before driving away in a stolen vehicle.

Surveillance footage later showed the suspects shooting at the building and recording a video of it on their phones, police said. No one inside the consulate was injured.

Police announced Tuesday they had arrested Sheldon Tracey-Stewart, 18, on multiple charges in the shooting. They also said they were searching for Zara Jabbi, 19.

Police said in a press release Thursday that they had arrested Jabbi and he faces charges including attack on the premises of internationally protected persons, possessing a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm and theft of a motor vehicle.

His arrest comes as police continue to investigate dozens of shootings across the Greater Toronto Area allegedly linked to criminal-for-hire networks, and after an officer was killed last week during a related raid.

Const. Marc Pinizzotto, 43, was fatally shot while officers were carrying out a search related to the investigation. Police said it happened at an apartment building in the city’s northwest on Thursday and Pinizzotto later died in hospital.

The man accused of shooting Pinizzotto, 19-year-old Nicholas Bennett, was shot and injured by police and will be charged with first-degree murder, as well as offences related to two other shootings, police said.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said at a press conference Tuesday that “multi-layered” gun-for-hire networks have allegedly recruited young people to carry out crimes.

Similar networks have also targeted synagogues and Jewish schools in the city, and police are working with the RCMP and the FBI to figure out who is orchestrating the shootings, Demkiw said.

“Through encrypted messaging apps, young people are hired to carry out attacks against various targets,” Demkiw said. He added the people behind the networks “want to create a sense of fear” in communities, including the Jewish community.

“In order to get paid, they’re required to film their attacks. Who’s paying for this? This is what we are trying to determine,” he said.

Demkiw said officers recovered two firearms during their operation last week, including a nine-millimetre handgun and a .45-calibre handgun, both of which originated in the United States. Investigators believe that firearms are being “swapped around” within the networks and used in different shootings.

Police said additional arrests and charges are possible as they continue to analyze forensic and ballistic evidence.

4)Double the speed limit, allegedly impaired, OPP charge Barrie resident

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, June 17, 2026

A late-night traffic stop in Angus turned into an impaired driving arrest after a driver was clocked at more than double the speed limit.

Around 11:30 Tuesday night, Nottawasaga OPP say an officer was conducting speed enforcement on Mill Street when a vehicle was recorded at 146 km/h in a posted 60 km/h zone and was driving without headlights.

The officer pulled the vehicle over, and during the stop, signs of impairment were observed, triggering an investigation.

The 28-year-old-Barrie man was arrested for impaired operation.

He was charged with multiple offences, including impaired driving by alcohol, operation while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 plus, dangerous operation, driving a motor vehicle with liquor readily available, and driving a motor vehicle with an open container of liquor.

The accused was released with a future court date.

5)OPP charge Barrie man in alleged rideshare sexual assault

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan

A Barrie man is facing sexual assault charges following an incident involving a rideshare passenger in Wasaga Beach.

Huronia West OPP say officers responded to a report of a sexual assault around 2 a.m. Sunday. Police allege the incident involved a rideshare driver and a passenger who was not known to the accused.

The 58-year-old suspect has been charged with two counts of sexual assault.

He has a court date in Collingwood on July 28.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact Huronia West OPP or Crime Stoppers.

6)(Updated) Guns-for-hire networks behind Toronto shootings, including at U.S. Consulate: police

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Maan Alhmidi and Elissa Mendes, June 16, 2026.

Multiple shootings in Toronto, including one at the U.S. Consulate in March, have been linked to “multi-layered” gun-for-hire networks that recruit young people to carry out the crimes, police said Tuesday.

Chief Myron Demkiw said similar networks have also targeted synagogues and Jewish schools in the city, and police are working with the RCMP and the FBI to figure out who is orchestrating the shootings.

“Through encrypted messaging apps, young people are hired to carry out attacks against various targets,” Demkiw told a press conference.

“In order to get paid, they’re required to film their attacks. Who’s paying for this? This is what we are trying to determine,” he said.

“It is clear that some of the people hiring these criminals want to create a sense of fear in our communities, including in the Jewish community.”

A veteran Toronto police officer was killed last week during a raid linked to several shooting investigations, including shots fired at the U.S. Consulate.

Const. Marc Pinizzotto, 43, was shot on Thursday while officers were carrying out a search at an apartment building in the city’s northwest and died in hospital.

The man accused of shooting Pinizzotto, 19-year-old Nicholas Bennett, was shot by police and remains in hospital. He will be charged with first-degree murder, police said, and is expected to be charged in connection with two other shootings targeting a business and a highrise apartment.

Police have also arrested and charged 18-year-old Sheldon Tracy-Stewart in the U.S. Consulate shooting. Another suspect wanted in connection with that shooting, 19-year-old Zara Jabbi, is still at large and believed to be armed and dangerous, police said.

Police said surveillance video showed two suspects getting out of a car on University Avenue and firing multiple rounds at the U.S. Consulate in the early morning of March 10. No one inside was injured.

Demkiw said officers recovered two firearms during their operation last week, including a nine-millimetre handgun and a .45-calibre handgun, both of which originated in the United States.

“These details are important as this investigation involves at least six shooting incidents in the Greater Toronto Area linked to a 9 mm handgun. And at least 21 shooting incidents in the Greater Toronto Area linked to a .45 calibre firearm,” he said, adding that ballistic testing is ongoing and could lead to more arrests and charges.

Chief Supt. Joe Matthews said it seems there are multiple networks behind the crimes and the shooters tend to be “younger in age.”

Police believe that firearms are being “swapped around” within the networks and used in different shootings.

He also said there is an “overlap” between these investigations and shootings targeting tow trucks and waste management companies, but did not get into more detail.

“These are very, very complex investigations,” Matthews said.

Police also announced Tuesday that Pinizzotto’s funeral will be held at the Toronto Congress Centre on June 24. It will not be open to the general public, but people can observe the funeral procession from the Kane-Jerrett Funeral Home, they said.

“This is an incredibly difficult moment for all of us,” Demkiw said at the press conference.

“Marc’s family has lost a husband, father and son, and as a service, we’ve lost a colleague and a friend.”

7)Stolen SUV at Georgian Mall: Barrie Police asking for dash‑cam footage

Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release

By Staff, June 17, 2026

Barrie Police are investigating after a white 2024 Honda CR‑V was reported stolen from the Georgian Mall parking lot Monday afternoon.

The vehicle was parked on the east side of Entrance #5 around 1:15 p.m. on June 15. When the owner returned shortly before 3 p.m., it was gone.

The owner searched the lot before contacting police. Officers canvassed the area for video, but the search “was unsuccessful”.

Investigators are asking anyone who was parked at the mall between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to check their dash‑cam footage for “any suspicious activity or persons.”

Anyone with information can contact the investigating officer at mbradley@barriepolice.ca.

8)OPP investigating new reports of hate-motivated materials in Orillia

Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, June 15, 2026

On Sunday, police say officers responded to reports that antisemitic materials, similar to those reported to the OPP in May, had been distributed in the community.
“The OPP’s Hate/Extremism Unit continues to be engaged, and an active investigation is continuing. Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed these incidents or who has information to come forward,” police said in a news release.

Investigators are asking Orillia residents to review available video surveillance footage from the evening of Saturday, June 13, to Sunday, June 14, 2026. Anyone with video that may assist in identifying a suspect or who observed suspicious activity during that time is asked to contact the OPP.
Police are also requesting that anyone who received a package containing antisemitic material contact investigators.

9)Foul play suspected after woman’s remains found in Thornton: OPP

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, June 15, 2026

Ontario Provincial Police say human remains found in Thornton are those of an adult female and foul play is suspected.

Around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, police were called to a residence near the 10th Line and 10th Sideroad after human remains were located.

Police say a post-mortem determined the remains to be those of an adult female, but the identity has not yet been confirmed.

Police are seeking the public’s help and are urging anyone with information in relation to the investigation to contact them.

“Residents are urged to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activity. A continued police presence can be expected as the investigation continues,” police said in a news release.

Further information will be released as it becomes available.

Anyone with any information regarding this investigation should contact the Nottawasaga OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

10)OPP lay arson charge after investigation into March fire in Wasaga Beach

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, June 15, 2026

A 50-year-old from Markham has been charged with arson following an investigation into a fire at a residential property in Wasaga Beach.

Ontario Provincial Police say around 3:20 a.m. on March 22, 2026, emergency crews responded to a structure fire on Mosley Street, near 21st Street North.

The fire was determined to be suspicious.

On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the suspect was arrested and charged.

The accused is due in court Aug. 25.

The investigation is ongoing.

11) Road Rage incident in Barrie leaves teen injured; Police seek witnesses

Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release
By Staff, June 15, 2026

Barrie Police are asking for the public’s help after a road rage incident over the weekend left a teenager with minor injuries.

The incident occurred on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at approximately 10:15 p.m., near the intersection of Dunlop Street West and Ferndale Drive North.

Family targeted during drive
According to police, a motorist travelling east on Highway 90 with his children and mother in the vehicle reported being aggressively tailgated by a Jeep.
When the motorist stopped at a red light, the situation escalated.
Police say the driver of the Jeep pulled up alongside and began yelling before throwing a beverage can through the open rear window, striking a 14-year-old passenger in the face.
Police say the teen suffered minor injuries and did not require medical attention.

Suspect fled scene after confrontation
Following the initial incident, the Jeep driver fled the scene. The affected motorist followed the vehicle, and both eventually stopped at the Dunlop Street West Highway 400 southbound ramp, where the drivers exchanged heated words.
As the motorist attempted to capture the Jeep’s licence plate, the suspect fled again.

Description of suspect and vehicle
Investigators have released the following description of the driver:
White male
Approximately 30 to 35 years old
Around five feet 10 inches tall
Heavy build
Large dark beard
Medium-length dark hair
He was last seen wearing:
A black sweater
Black pants
A black baseball cap
Police also report the driver had a young passenger, believed to be his child, in the backseat at the time.

The suspect vehicle is described as:
A2010–2015 Jeep Wrangler
Dark grey in colour
Equipped with large yellow spotlights mounted on either side of the hood
Featuring a large roof radio antenna
Outfitted with oversized tires
Police appeal for information
Investigators are working to identify the Jeep driver and are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or captured it on dash camera to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Barrie Police at 705-725-7025.

What to watch for
Police remind drivers to remain calm and avoid engaging during heated situations on the road. If confronted with aggressive behaviour, authorities advise prioritizing safety and contacting police when it is safe to do so.

12)(Updated) Police allege 12-year-old boy hit Toronto officer with stolen vehicle

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Canadian Press Staff, June 15, 2026.

A 12-year-old boy who allegedly hit a Toronto police officer with a stolen car and was shot at by police before he fled the scene has been charged with attempted murder.

Two other children, a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old, were also in the car at the time, Ontario’s police watchdog said. One has been arrested and police are looking for the other.

The 12-year-old driver remains in hospital in serious but non-life-threatening condition and the officer has since been released, the Special Investigations Unit said Monday morning. They were both sent there to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The SIU says it’s still unclear how the boy was injured.

“The injury could be from a bullet, could be a graze, could be glass from the vehicle, we don’t know yet,” said Kristy Denette, a spokesperson for the SIU.

Police say the 12-year-old faces other charges including vehicle theft, failure to stop for police and assaulting a police officer.

Officers responded to a stolen vehicle call around 1 a.m. Monday morning in Toronto’s east end.

Four officers in two vehicles tried to box in the vehicle on Leaside Bridge. As the boy tried to flee, he allegedly hit a police officer who fired multiple times at the vehicle, Denette said.

She said it was early in the investigation, and it was not immediately clear whether the officer fired at the car before or after he was hit.

The car was abandoned just over a kilometre south of the bridge at Floyd Avenue and Donlands Avenue, Denette said. The 12-year-old was arrested about a block further south at Mortimer Avenue.

13)Orillia man charged after caught going 70 km/h over posted limit on Highway 11

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Julius Hern, June 12, 2026

Provincial police charged a man for stunt driving after he was caught travelling 70 kilometres per hour over the posted limit in Highway 11 in Orillia on Monday.

Around 5:10 p.m., an Orillia OPP conducting speed enforcement stopped a vehicle travelling northbound near Line 15 travelling at 160 km/h in a posted 90 km/h zone.

The driver, a 46-year-old man from Orillia was charged stunt driving as a result.

His licence was suspended for 30 days and his vehicle was subsequently impounded for 14 days.

He is set to appear in court on August 12.

“Excessive speed and aggressive driving behaviour pose serious risks to everyone on the road,” police said in a news release. “Officers will continue proactive enforcement efforts to promote safe driving across the region.”

14)Gravenhurst man fined after improper wildland burn spread to nearby cottages

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Julius Hern. June 13, 2026

A Gravenhurst man has been fined more than $5,700 after unsafe burning practices led to a wildland fire that spread near cottages in Gravenhurst, according to an Ontario court ruling.

Gravenhurst resident Geoffrey Larden pleaded guilty to failing to tend a fire under the Forest Fires Prevention Act and was ordered to pay the province $5,716.82 as partial compensation for fire suppression costs.

The Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge heard that the wildland fire was first reported on Aug. 4, 2025, adjacent to a cottage on Gull Lake. No one was present at the property at the time.

Fire crews from Gravenhurst initially responded and began suppression efforts before an airborne crew from the Ministry of Natural Resources took over the response.

A subsequent investigation found that on July 31, Larden had burned wood debris directly on the forest floor rather than in a designated fire pit.

After the burn, he poured water on the area before leaving the property on Aug. 3.

However, a forensic investigation by the Ministry of Natural Resources concluded the fire remained in a state of sustained combustion beneath the surface.

Between July 31 and Aug. 4, hot and dry weather conditions contributed to heightened fire risk. By Aug. 4, fire weather indices had reached extreme levels, creating favourable conditions for the fire to spread out of control.

Witness accounts from nearby residents and cottagers also supported the findings.

On August 4, the fire intensified and spread beyond the initial burn site, threatening nearby cottages and causing a power outage affecting part of the lake area. Fire crews worked to contain the blaze before it could spread further.

Authorities continue to remind residents that even small, unattended or improperly extinguished fires can reignite under dry and windy conditions, particularly during periods of elevated fire danger.