Police cruisers damaged by fleeing vehicle; 16 year old charged

A 16-year-old man has been charged after he was the passenger in a stolen car whose driver allegedly rammed into a pair of Barrie police cars on Sunday.

Shortly before 4pm on Sunday, Barrie police say they were contacted by the owner of a vehicle that was reported stolen from a Mississauga banquet hall earlier in the day and reported to Peel Regional Police.

Barrie police say they were given a number of locations on the north side of the city and eventually located the stolen sport utility vehicle (SUV) in a parking lot on Peel Street.

While trying to prevent the stolen SUV from being driven away, Barrie police said two marked vehicles were damaged. The officers were not injured.

“Officers on scene monitored the area while a dog trail was established for the driver and a passenger who fled on foot. Unfortunately, they were not located and remain out of the picture,” Barrie police said in a news release.

A male passenger was taken into custody and transported to Barrie Police Station where the investigation continued.

The 16-year-old male who was arrested has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. He was later released and will appear in the Juvenile Court at the Barrie Courthouse on December 17, 2024.

The stolen SUV will be examined by the Barrie Police Forensic Identification Unit and the investigation is ongoing.