Barrie Police have issued an arrest warrant for Bryan Smith of Barrie on a charge of assault causing bodily harm.
The warrant was sworn in relation to the suspicious death investigation of 45-year-old Brett Wickett.
The Barrie man died in hospital on Saturday evening after being admitted earlier in the day with obvious signs of trauma.
An autopsy conducted Monday identified the preliminary cause of death as a blunt force head injury.
Police believe Wickett suffered his injuries during a fight Friday night with another man.
The altercation took place in the parking lot behind a townhouse complex located at 188 Anne St. South.
"The postmortem results came back with the initial conclusion that there was blunt force trauma. They're continuing with the pathology a little more thoroughly over the next week. At this time we could determine that the criminal charge of assault causing bodily harm is in relation to the altercation that happened on Friday night," said Const. Nicole Rodgers.
"It could be upgraded at some point based on the pathology and based on speaking to Smith once we locate him and speaking to witnesses in the investigation. Processing the scene might also determine something different and we might change the charge."
Barrie police believe the 37-year-old Smith is a suspect may be in Penetanguishe or Midland.
Investigators are still urging Smith to come forward.
"Contact police or if he's in another area to contact police there. We need to deal with this warrant and speak to him in relation to this incident," Rodgers said.
Wickett's Facebook said he hailed from Orangeville but now lived in Barrie.
It also stated he worked in the paint department at Valmont West Coast Engineering on Ellis Dr. and had studied at Georgian College.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Barrie Police Homicide Services at 705-725-7025 ext. 2160 or Crime Stoppers.
