A vehicle wanted in connection to a break-and-enter in south-end Barrie crashed through a freshly painted fence on Ferndale Drive, Wednesday afternoon.
One male was taken into custody and two other suspects remain outstanding, said Barrie police Const. Sarah Bamford.
At the crash scene, shortly after 2 p.m., Barrie police Sgt. Angela Butler said it was early in the investigation, but indicated officers had initially responded to a break-in near Ferndale and Cumming Drive, south of Ardagh Road.
Butler said neighbours saw people kicking in the door at the home and called police. They provided authorities with a description of the vehicle that fled the break-in scene.
Police spotted a vehicle matching that description and “a short chase ensued,” Butler said.
Officers caught up with the vehicle at Ferndale and Cuthbert Street, where it had come to a stop after crashing through a fence.
No injuries were reported.
Ferndale Woods Elementary School, which is located across the street, was placed in a hold-and-secure as officers and police dogs searched the neighbourhood.
“We were just walking down Ferndale and saw five cruisers come flying by,” said Cuthbert Street resident Ingrid Myra, who added she heard one of the suspects was located in a portable washroom at nearby Elizabeth Park.
A police officer in an unmarked SUV had pulled up onto the grass beside the port-a-potty at the park as heavy rain began to fall on the area.
“All I heard was a loud bang,” said Cuthbert Street resident Les King, who added the residents at 177 Ferndale Dr. S., where the vehicle came to a stop, had just painted their fence on Tuesday.
Myra said the heavy police presence is unusual for her neighbourhood.
"It's very quiet," she said.
Police cruisers had also been placed on alert at the corner of Ferndale and Tiffin Street as well as on Patterson Road at the railroad crossing.
Officers at the crash scene were also measuring the suspect vehicle's skid marks, but no roads have been closed in the area.
