Two separate stabbing incidents within a period of approximately five hours kept Barrie police investigators busy on Tuesday.
In the first incident near Bayfield Street and Highway 400, police say the male victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries about being stabbed in his tent while he slept. In the second incident, which occurred in the downtown area, a man and his dog were stabbed by an unknown assailant who remains at large. Both the man and the dog were treated for their wounds.
According to police, the first incident occurred at 4:36 p.m. on Aug. 6 as the victim was attacked by a known man while he slept in his tent in a wooded area located adjacent to the southbound ramp to Highway 400 from Bayfield Street.
After being violently awakened, police say the suspect was chased by the victim westbound onto Bayfield Street, and then southbound to the Highway 400 northbound off-ramp where the suspect was seen placing an object on the ground.
As the incident unfolded, police say unsuspecting members of the public became involved, which assisted officers with what would evolve into an ongoing but “solvable” investigation.
When police arrived at the location, officers received details that led them to an area which is the former site of the YMCA near Grove Street West.
At the same time, the victim was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for a serious but non-life-threatening injury.
Police said they located the suspect on Peel Street at 5:36 p.m. and took him into custody without incident. He was transported to police headquarters on Fairview Road where the investigation continued.
Joseph Jones, of no fixed address, has been charged with aggravated assault, and is scheduled to appear today, by video, for a bail hearing with the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie.
None of the allegations have been tested in court.
A police officer documents the scene on Owen Street in Barrie late last night after both a man and his dog were stabbed. Police are still searching for the suspect. | Michael Chorney/At the Scene Photography
Meanwhile, in the second but unrelated incident, city police are searching for a suspect who stabbed both a man and his dog in downtown Barrie late last night.
The incident occurred at 9:59 p.m., when a man walking his dog in the area of Dunlop and Owen streets became involved in an argument with an unknown man who stabbed him and the dog, according to police.
The dog was treated for an injury, while the male victim was transported to a local hospital where he is receiving ongoing treatment for a stab wound, police said.
The suspect, who is outstanding, is described as a Black male who was wearing a grey hoodie, dark shorts and running shoes. He was last seen running southbound on Owen Street.
Police say they are continuing to investigate this incident and are presently working to identify the suspect.
“The Barrie Police Service wish to thank the public who were involved in both incidents yesterday as they provided responding officers with valuable information that ultimately led to the recovery of key evidence and the arrest of the person responsible in the first incident, and a description of the suspect being sought in the second incident,” police said in a news release this morning.
