crime: 1)Youth guilty of two terrorism charges tied to alleged plan to kill Jewish people; 2)Barrie Police seek owners of stolen property recovered in drug trafficking probe; 3)Wasaga Beach resident charged with arson in motel fire; 4) Cellphone stolen during Barrie robbery, airsoft gun recovered; 5)(Updated) Innisfil man dies after rollover crash on Veterans Drive in Barrie; 6)Barrie man charged following months-long child exploitation investigation; 7) Barrie man charged AFTER hit-and-run collisions involving parked vehicles; 8)Fourth person charged after 10 vehicles damaged in Gravenhurst vandalism spree 9)Ammo stolen from military recovered in Toronto abduction probe, 3 CAF members charged; 10)Retired officer helps stop alleged impaired driver in Barrie over Thanksgiving weekend ; 11) Barrie Police seek dashcam footage after collision in city’s north end; 12)Driver clocked at 157 km/h in Innisfil loses licence after South Simcoe Police stop; 13)SIU clears OPP officers after Huntsville man fractures ankle during arrest and escape attempts; 14)Five GTA men charged after recreational shooting concerns in Muskoka; 15)OPP investigating deadly wrong-way collision on Highway 11 north of Orillia; 16)Bracebridge driver charged with impaired after vehicle hits tree in school zone
1) Youth guilty of two terrorism charges tied to alleged plan to kill Jewish people
Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press
By Jim Bronskill, Oct. 16, 2026.
Ottawa courthouse in August 2024, where a youth was found guilty of two terrorism-related charges.
The Ottawa courthouse is seen on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle
A judge has found a youth guilty of two terrorism-related charges stemming from an alleged 2023 plan to kill Jewish people in Ottawa.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Kerry McVey found the young person guilty of conspiracy to commit murder through involvement with a terrorist group, and of facilitating terrorist activity by seeking to acquire a prohibited firearm.
McVey found him not guilty of facilitating terrorist activity by making instructional material and propaganda available.
The youth, who cannot legally be identified due to his age, had pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
His trial began in April, a day after his co-accused — also a young person who cannot legally be identified — was found guilty on four charges.
McVey concluded the youth found guilty today conspired with his co-accused and another individual who was not charged in a plan to kill innocent people.
2)Barrie Police seek owners of stolen property recovered in drug trafficking probe
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 16, 2026
Tools, two electric bikes and an electric scooter recovered by Barrie Police.
Property recovered by Barrie Police during a search warrant on Maple Avenue on Oct. 1, 2026. (Image supplied by Barrie Police Service)
Barrie Police are looking to reunite owners with stolen property recovered during a search warrant executed at a Maple Avenue address on Oct. 1 as part of a drug trafficking investigation.
Police say they recovered various tools, two electric bikes and an electric scooter.
Eight people, ranging in age from 31 to 48, were taken into custody.
Five people were charged with drug-related offences.
Additionally, 34-year-old man was arrested on a warrant, a 36-year-old woman was arrested for obstructing an officer, and a 32-year-old man was arrested on a warrant and obstructing an officer.
Anyone who recognizes the property is asked to contact the lead investigator by email at 3912@barriepolice.ca. Images available online: https://barrie360.com/barrie-police-recovered-stolen-property/
Police say any unclaimed property will be disposed of in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act.
3)Wasaga Beach resident charged with arson in motel fire
Source Barrie 360
By Ian MacLennan, October 15, 2026
A person has been charged in connection with a fire at the Villa Nova Motel in Wasaga Beach.
Ontario Provincial Police say that on Mar. 9, shortly before midnight, emergency crews responded to the blaze on Mosley Street.
Everyone inside was able to evacuate safely, and no injuries were reported.
This week, police arrested a 58-year-old suspect from Wasaga Beach and charged them with arson, disregard for human life, and failing to comply with an undertaking.
The accused has a court date on Oct. 27.
4) Cellphone stolen during Barrie robbery, airsoft gun recovered
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 16, 2026
Barrie Police are investigating an early-morning robbery in the city’s east end.
Police say it happened around 5 a.m. Thursday, near Sylvia Street and Bernick Drive.
The victim was leaving his home when he noticed a man standing in his driveway. Police say the suspect allegedly pointed a firearm at him, leading to a struggle in which the victim dropped his cellphone.
The suspect grabbed the phone and ran off, jumping a fence into a backyard before heading toward the Georgian College property on Georgian Drive.
The 30-year-old male victim was not injured.
Investigators believe the incident may have been targeted.
Surveillance video shows the suspect being picked up by a four-door grey sedan around 5:20 a.m. The vehicle then travelled toward Duckworth Street in the direction of Cundles Road.
Police later recovered the stolen cellphone and an airsoft gun nearby.
The suspect is described as tall and thin, wearing all-black clothing and a ski mask.
Investigators are looking to identify both the suspect and the driver of the vehicle.
Anyone with information, including video footage that could help the investigation, is asked to email investigators at 4755@barriepolice.ca or 10406@barriepolice.ca.
5)(Updated) Innisfil man dies after rollover crash on Veterans Drive in Barrie
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 16, 2026
Updated story
A 38-year-old Innisfil man has died of injuries suffered in a vehicle rollover crash in south Barrie on Tuesday morning.
Around 4:30, police say they responded to the collision on Veterans Drive near McKay Road.
Firefighters had to cut the male driver and female passenger from the wreckage.
The male was airlifted to a Toronto trauma centre where they died later that evening.
The 21-year-old passenger went to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries and was released.
The investigation is ongoing.
____________________________________
Original story – Oct. 13, 2026
Two people had to be extricated from the wreckage of a vehicle after a rollover crash in south Barrie on Tuesday.
The collision occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Veterans Drive between McKay Road and Ninth Line.
The male driver, a 38-year-old from Innisfil, was airlifted to a Toronto trauma centre. A 21-year-old female passenger was taken to a local hospital.
Veterans Drive has since reopened.
The investigation is ongoing.
6) Barrie man charged following months-long child exploitation investigation
Source Barrie 360
By Julius Hern, October 15, 2026
A Barrie man was charged on Thursday following a four-month investigation that connected him with the possession, access, and distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
The Barrie Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) began the investigation after receiving reports regarding the distribution of the illegal material via the social media on Discord and X.
On June 3, police executed a search warrant at a Barrie residence and seized several computers that belonged to the accused.
Police say subsequent forensic analysis and categorization uncovered hundreds of files of child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
The 21-year-old man from Barrie is facing three separate charges for possessing, accessing, and distributing of child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
“Protecting children from predators is a shared responsibility that starts with awareness,” the Barrie Police Service stated in a media release. “It’s important to understand that individuals online may not always be who they claim to be. Encourage children to speak with a trusted adult if someone online makes them feel uncomfortable or makes inappropriate requests or demands.”
7) Barrie man charged AFTER hit-and-run collisions involving parked vehicles
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 15, 2026
A 33-year-old Barrie man has been charged following a series of collisions involving parked vehicles in the city’s northeast end during Thanksgiving weekend.
Barrie Police say officers were alerted around 10:15 p.m. on Sunday about collisions along Stanley Street.
The vehicle was later found abandoned in the area of Highway 400 and Tiffin Street.
Using descriptions of the vehicle and its driver, police identified the vehicle’s registered owner and went to the man’s address, where officers found someone matching the driver’s description.
Police say officers detected a strong smell of alcohol coming from the man and that he slurred his speech.
He was arrested on suspicion of impaired driving and transported to police headquarters.
Police allege his blood alcohol concentration was more than twice the legal limiit.
He was charged with impaired driving, dangerous operation, operation while impaired over 80, and failure to remain.
Police are asking anyone with surveillance footage of the collisions in the Stanley Street area on October 11 to contact the investigating officer at 12767@barriepolice.ca.
8)Fourth person charged after 10 vehicles damaged in Gravenhurst vandalism spree
Source Barrie 360
By Ian MacLennan, October 15, 2026
Ontario Provincial Police have charged a fourth person in an investigation into damage to 10 parked vehicles in Gravenhurst.
Police say officers responded to multiple reports of mischief in the early morning hours of Sept. 16.
The vehicles were parked on First Street South, Winewood Avenue West, Muskoka Road South, Main Street, and Oriole Crescent.
Investigators say rocks were thrown from a moving pickup truck, smashing the windows of the parked vehicles.
Three youths from Port Sydney, aged 14, 16, and 17, were previously charged with 10 counts of mischief each.
On Wednesday, police charged a 20-year-old Gravenhurst man with 10 counts of mischief and charge of obstructing a peace officer.
The accused has a court date Nov. 10.
9)Ammo stolen from military recovered in Toronto abduction probe, 3 CAF members charged
Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press
By Jordan Omstead, October 14, 2026
Three military members have been arrested for their alleged roles in the abduction of a cryptocurrency exchange owner, Toronto police said Wednesday, expanding on an investigation they say uncovered hundreds of ammunition rounds allegedly stolen from the Canadian Armed Forces.
What started as an abduction investigation eventually “became much larger,” said Chief Myron Demkiw.
“Whether you are a member of the military or a member of police service or a public official, no one is above the law,” said Demkiw, who has been managing the fallout from the service’s Project South corruption scandal.
The three military members are among seven arrested in what police described as an active investigation.
Police allege 2,500 rounds of ammunition, about half of them blanks, and five over-capacity magazines were stolen from the military. That ammunition had not been reported stolen to the service before it was seized in the investigation, police said.
The Department of National Defence did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. It confirmed earlier this month that two members of the Canadian Armed Forces had been arrested on charges related to kidnapping, organized crime and firearms theft.
Both accused, Talarambage Sachintha Fernando and James Moreau, were bombardiers with the 7 Toronto Regiment who were removed from duties and had their access restricted since their Aug. 11 arrest, DND said.
Police now say a third military member, 24-year-old Jack Miley, was arrested on Sept 24. They did not comment on his rank.
“These are highly trained individuals with access to firearms and that creates a lot of concern for not only our community but our officers,” said Chief Supt. Joe Matthews, with the service’s detective operations.
Despite the DND’s initial statement, a connection between those arrested and a larger organized crime group has not been revealed, though investigators were still combing through cellphones, Matthews said.
Police were working to determine how the seven accused may have known each other, besides the two who belonged to the same regiment, he said.
The investigation began on July 25, when officers responded to a reported abduction near Finch Avenue East and Bayview Avenue, police say.
They allege the victim, the owner of a cryptocurrency exchange, was approaching his vehicle when he was taken at gunpoint, handcuffed and assaulted. The suspects tried to gain access to his “cryptocurrency assets and business-related security systems,” a news release said.
Police said the victim was later released and threatened not to contact authorities. He had minor injuries, said police, who declined to elaborate further on the abduction, citing the ongoing court cases.
Within 24 hours, police say a suspect vehicle had been identified and two suspects were arrested.
Multiple search warrants in the Greater Toronto Area turned up two 3D-printed handguns, a shotgun, two silencers and illicit drugs, among other items, police said. All but one of the seven accused is charged with kidnapping for ransom.
Of the 82 charges laid in the investigation, Fernando faces the most of any of the accused, with 20 mostly gun-related offences. Moreau is the only one of the three arrested military members to face a drug-related charge: two counts of possession for trafficking.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2026.
10)Retired officer helps stop alleged impaired driver in Barrie over Thanksgiving weekend
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Staff, October 14, 2026
A retired police officer is being credited with helping remove an alleged impaired driver from the road after a dangerous driving incident in Barrie over the Thanksgiving Day weekend.
Barrie Police say the incident happened shortly after 9 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11, when the retired officer was travelling eastbound on Highway 90 toward Barrie and noticed a vehicle being driven erratically.
Police say the vehicle travelled at inconsistent speeds and could not stay in its lane. At one point, the driver allegedly crossed two lanes of traffic, forcing oncoming motorists to pull off the roadway to avoid a collision.
The retired officer followed the vehicle until it reached the intersection of Tiffin Street and Dunlop Street West. There, he was able to get the vehicle off the road and remove the keys from the driver before police arrived.
When officers reached the scene, they detected the smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath and observed glossy eyes. The driver was arrested and taken to Barrie Police Headquarters, where a qualified breath technician conducted further testing.
Police say the results confirmed the driver was over the legal alcohol limit.
A 34-year-old Barrie man has been charged with impaired operation and operation while impaired with a blood-alcohol concentration over 80 milligrams. His driver’s licence was suspended and the vehicle was impounded under provisions of Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
Barrie Police praised the outcome of the incident but reminded residents not to put themselves in danger when they suspect someone is driving impaired.
“The retired officer’s actions helped to safely get an impaired driver off the road; however, we never encourage members of the public to intervene in these situations,” police said in a release.
Anyone who suspects impaired driving to call 911 when it is safe to do so.
11) Barrie Police seek dashcam footage after collision in city’s north end
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 13, 2026
Barrie Police are asking for dashcam footage as they investigate a two-vehicle collision in the city’s north end.
Police say the crash happened around 10 a.m. on Oct. 13, at the intersection of Duckworth Street and Bell Farm Road.
A 43-year-old woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The other driver, a 35-year-old woman, was not injured.
The cause of the collision is under investigation.
Anyone with dashcam footage of the crash is asked to email the investigating officer at 11704@barriepolice.ca.
12) Driver clocked at 157 km/h in Innisfil loses licence after South Simcoe Police stop
Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release
By Staff, October 12, 2026
A Richmond Hill man is facing stunt driving and speeding charges after South Simcoe Police stopped a driver they said was travelling 157 km/h in an 80 km/h zone in Innisfil.
The vehicle was stopped on October 10 on Big Bay Point Road in the Town of Innisfil.
The driver was charged with stunt driving and speeding. His driver’s licence was suspended for 30 days and the vehicle was impounded for 14 days.
Police say the incident serves as another reminder of the dangers associated with excessive speed on local roads and urges drivers to slow down, obey posted speed limits and help keep roads safe for everyone.
13) SIU clears OPP officers after Huntsville man fractures ankle during arrest and escape attempts
Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release
By Staff, October 11, 2026
The province’s police watchdog has cleared Ontario Provincial Police officers of any wrongdoing after a Huntsville man suffered fractures to his right foot during a chaotic series of escape attempts that included climbing down a television antenna tower and fleeing from an ambulance while handcuffed.
Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Director Joseph Martino concluded there were no reasonable grounds to believe any OPP officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the 31-year-old man’s injuries.
The incident began on June 14, 2026, when OPP received a request for a wellness check on a woman reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis. Investigators later determined the call was not genuine.
Shortly afterward, police received a report that the complainant had taken his grandfather’s Jeep without permission, was under the influence of drugs and was breaching house arrest conditions.
Officers attended a Huntsville residence where the man was believed to be staying. According to the SIU, police discovered the complainant hiding in an upstairs bedroom. After officers were unable to enter the room, the man smashed a window and attempted to escape by climbing down a television antenna mounted to the side of the house.
Body-worn camera footage reviewed by investigators captured the man saying, “I’m not going to jail” as he descended the antenna.
The SIU said the complainant jumped the final one to two metres to the ground before becoming involved in a struggle with officers attempting to arrest him. Police observed swelling in his ankle and paramedics transported him to Huntsville District Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Medical staff initially could not confirm a fracture, and the man was later returned to the OPP detachment wearing an air cast boot.
However, after further complaints of pain and concerns about his well-being, he was being transported back to hospital later that afternoon when he escaped from the ambulance.
The SIU found the complainant jumped from the rear of the ambulance while handcuffed and ran barefoot through the hospital parking lot before leaping down a steep embankment and disappearing into a wooded area.
A search involving multiple OPP officers and a canine unit was launched. Police eventually located the man after receiving a report about a handcuffed individual in a residential backyard. He was arrested without incident.
After his recapture, officers noted his ankle appeared more swollen and that he had suffered a new cut to his foot. He was returned to hospital, where medical imaging confirmed fractures in his right foot.
In his decision, Martino said investigators could not determine exactly when the injury occurred but identified several possible scenarios.
“Assuming that he did not suffer the injury to his foot prior to his involvement with police on June 14, 2026, there are three identifiable points in the events of that day where the Complainant could have suffered an injury to his foot,” Martino wrote.
The report states the injury may have occurred when the complainant jumped from the television antenna, when he leapt down the embankment after fleeing the ambulance, or when he allegedly fell through the floor of a residence while hiding from police.
“In none of these incidents is there a causal connection that can be drawn from the actions of an officer to the potential mechanism of injury, and consequently no reason to believe that officers committed a criminal offence with relation to the Complainant,” Martino concluded.
While clearing officers of criminal wrongdoing, the SIU noted a possible violation of police body-worn camera policy involving one officer. The matter has been referred to the OPP and the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency for review.
14) Five GTA men charged after recreational shooting concerns in Muskoka
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 10, 2026
Concerns from the public about recreational shooting in Georgian Bay Township have led to charges against five men from the Greater Toronto Area.
Bracebridge OPP say officers were conducting patrols along Tower Road on Sept. 26 when they charged the men with disobeying a notice under the Public Lands Act.
The act governs the use and management of public lands and forests in Ontario.
OPP say they take firearm incidents very seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that puts the public at risk.
15) OPP investigating deadly wrong-way collision on Highway 11 north of Orillia
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 10, 2026
One person was killed in a wrong-way two-vehicle collision on Highway 11 north of Orillia.
Ontario Provincial Police say they responded around 4 a.m. Saturday to reports of a wrong-way driver involved in a collision involving a pickup truck and an SUV on Highway 11 northbound, near South Sparrow Lake Road/Goldstein Road, in Severn Township.
One driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police say the identity of the deceased is being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin.
Highway 11 was closed in both directions for several hours while police investigated the crash, but the road has since reopened.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage related to the collision is asked to contact the Orillia OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
16) Bracebridge driver charged with impaired after vehicle hits tree in school zone
Source Barrie 360
By Ian MacLennan, October 9, 2026
Ontario Provincial Police have charged a motorist with impaired driving after a vehicle left the road and slammed into a tree in a school zone in Bracebridge.
Police say the single-vehicle crash happened near an elementary school on Cedar Lane around 10:20 Tuesday morning.
A 45-year-old Bracebridge man was charged with impaired operation and two counts each of operation while prohibited and driving while suspended.
The accused has a court date in November.