Crime: 1)SIU investigating after Barrie police interaction leads to man’s death;2)Alliston man charged with allegedly threatening Ontario premier; 3)Late-night stop by Barrie police uncovers booze, cannabis, impaired driver; 4)Suspended Barrie driver charged after denying he was behind the wheel; 5) Barrie ranked Ontario’s most dangerous city for drivers; 6)Road rage incident in Barrie results in charges against Essa Township man

1)SIU investigating after Barrie police interaction leads to man’s death

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Julius Hern, March 6, 2026

No criminal charges for cops who stopped drunk driver before fatal 2024 crash: SIU

The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has been called in after a man died early Friday morning in Barrie following a police-initiated traffic stop.

Police say the incident began after 3 a.m. when Barrie Police officers stopped a vehicle on Dunlop Street West between Frances Street North and Eccles Street North for a suspected impaired driver.

A 25-year-old female driver was arrested and charged with impaired operation over the legal blood alcohol concentration limit.

During the process, a 29-year-old male passenger fled the scene on foot, with the SIU detailing that officers learned that he was wanted on an arrest warrant.

Officers located him a short distance away after pursuing him on foot.

The SIU says a backyard of a Frances Street residence was the scene of the deployment of a conducted energy weapon during the interaction between the male and officers.

Eventually, the man’s vital signs went absent, and first aid was administered before he was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Police say the suspect was in serious condition when he was brought to hopsital.

Three investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case of the man’s death.

Dunlop Street West was closed from Frances Street North to Eccles Street North until around 10:30 a.m., as was Frances Street North from Dunlop Street West to Henry Street.

2)Alliston man charged with allegedly threatening Ontario premier

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Canadian Press Staff, March 5, 2026

A 20-year-old man from Alliston has been charged after police allege he threatened Premier Doug Ford.

Ontario Provincial Police say they started investigating a threat made against Ford on Feb. 13.

They say the suspect has now been arrested.

He has been charged with one count of uttering threats to cause harm.

Police say the man has been released from custody and is set to appear in court next month.

Investigators are asking anyone with information on the alleged incident to come forward.

3)Late-night stop by Barrie police uncovers booze, cannabis, impaired driver

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, March 5, 2026

Barrie police say officers on patrol downtown just before midnight on Wednesday noticed two men walking north on Clapperton Street near Dunlop Street East who looked unsteady on their feet.

Police watched as one guy got behind the wheel of an idling parked vehicle, while the other hopped in the passenger seat.

A quick licence plate check showed the owner’s driver’s licence had recently expired.

When officers approached, police say they found several open alcohol containers in the back seat and open cannabis packages near the centre console. It’s alleged the driver admitted to have “a few” drinks, as officers noted his slurred speech and glossy eyes.

He was arrested and taken to police headquarters, where breath tests showed he was twice the legal alcohol limit.

A 36-year-old from Barrie faces impaired driving charges.

4) Suspended Barrie driver charged after denying he was behind the wheel

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, March 4, 2026

Just after 9:15 on Monday morning, police say an officer on patrol got an alert from the cruiser’s Automated Licence Plate Recognition system (ALPR) about a possible suspended driver.

Officers spotted the vehicle on Anne Street North and made a U-turn to pull it over. Even with emergency lights and sirens activated, police say the vehicle continued, weaving through traffic before turning onto Sunnidale Road and pulling into a parking lot.

When officers approached the car, they found a man in the driver’s seat and a woman in the passenger seat.

Police say the man denied he had been driving, claiming the vehicle was already parked. Officers let him know they had seen the vehicle travelling on Anne Street North and turning into the lot.

The ALPR system had also captured images confirming the vehicle and its licence plate.

After further investigation, police determined the man was operating the vehicle while his licence was suspended.

A 40-year-old Barrie man was charged with driving while under suspension, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, driving a motor vehicle with no valid permit, and failing to stop when signalled by a police officer.

“ALPR technology automatically scans licence plates to confirm permits, vehicle status, and Criminal Code alerts, giving officers real-time alerts that enhance proactive policing efforts,” police said in a news release. “Police remind motorists that driving while suspended and failing to stop for officers are serious offences. Anyone choosing to get behind the wheel must be licensed, insured, and in full compliance with the law.”

5) Barrie ranked Ontario’s most dangerous city for drivers

Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release

By MyChoice.ca, March 3, 2026

Barrie has been named the most dangerous city to drive in Ontario, according to an analysis from insurance comparison platform MyChoice.ca.

MyChoice’s annual review examined more than 200,000 car insurance quotes collected since 2020. Using a weighted scoring system that combines accident history (70%) and driving infractions (30%), the company ranked municipalities from safest to most dangerous.

Barrie rose to the top of the danger list this year, overtaking Brantford. The shift was driven by elevated accident rates rather than infraction spikes.

According to the raw data included in the study:

• 14.54% of Barrie drivers have at least one accident on record

• 12.41% have one or more infractions

These figures place Barrie ahead of Burlington, Brantford, Kingston, Belleville, and other mid sized cities that also saw declines.

Province-wide collision rates continue to increase

MyChoice reports that Ontario’s overall collision rate climbed again last year, rising from 10.78% in 2024 to 11.06% in 2025.

CEO Aren Mirzaian says drivers need to focus on controllable factors—especially in challenging winter conditions.

“Drivers can’t control the regional risk trends, but they can control how they drive. Following the defensive driving principles, such as leaving extra space, slowing down in poor conditions, and minimizing distractions, remains one of the most effective ways to stay safe on the road. Winter tires are also a smart seasonal upgrade that can qualify you for an insurance discount.”

The report highlights that a single at-fault accident can nearly double insurance premiums at renewal.

Despite its size and traffic volume, Toronto once again ranked as Ontario’s safest driving environment.

MyChoice says its goal is to help drivers better understand shifting risk patterns in the communities where they live and travel.

6)Road rage incident in Barrie results in charges against Essa Township man

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, March 2, 2026

Barrie police were aided by video footage of a reported road rage incident on February 20 that has now resulted in charges against an Essa Township man.

Police say they received a report of a female motorist travelling westbound on Dunlop Street West when a pickup truck merged from the Highway 400 northbound off-ramp without signalling and proceeded to drive in an erratic and dangerous manner.

“Officers launched an investigation into the complaint and obtained video footage of the incident which revealed the pickup truck merged without signalling, cut off the complainant, stopped in the lane, accelerated to block her lane change, tailgated at close range, and made a turning motion toward the complainant’s vehicle in a manner that could have resulted in a serious collision with oncoming traffic,” police stated in a media release.

There was no collision, and no injuries were reported.

Officers were able to identify the driver of the pickup, and that person turned himself into police on Saturday.

The 46-year-old has been charged with dangerous operation, as well as several Highway Traffic Act offences, including failing to signal a lane change, failing to yield to traffic on a through highway, unnecessary slow driving, and following too closely.

“The Barrie Police Service reminds motorists that aggressive and dangerous driving behaviour puts all road users at risk. Incidents of road rage should be reported to police, and drivers are encouraged to provide video evidence when available to aid in the investigation,” according to the news release.