A Barrie MP raised concerns in the House of Commons recently about repeat offenders after a city police officer received “serious” injuries after he was stabbed at a north-end restaurant on Sept. 29.
"Const. Jim Peters, a Barrie police officer, was stabbed while on duty by a repeat violent offender who was on probation at the time of the stabbing,” Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MP Doug Shipley said in the House of Commons on Oct. 3.
“Over the past two years, this accused individual has been arrested and released 17 times and has had over 100 interactions with the Barrie Police Service. This rampant crime and chaos must end,” the MP added.
Shipley said the justice system has a “catch-and-release system” that strains police departments, which “puts the men and women in uniform who dedicate their lives to serve and protect our communities at risk.”
Const. Peters sustained the serious but non-life-threatening injuries after being stabbed while taking a male suspect into custody at a fast-food restaurant.
Police were called to the McDonald’s at Bayfield and Livingstone streets shortly before 1 p.m. on Sept. 29 for a weapons-related call.
Nikolaos Vassilodimitrakis, 39, of no fixed address, has been charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, assault with intent to resist arrest, assault with a weapon, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, and four counts of failure to comply with probation.
Vassilodimitrakis was also charged with failure to leave when directed, under the Trepass To Property Act.
None of the allegations have been tested in court.
BarrieToday has been unable to acquire the criminal record for Vassilodimitrakis from court officials to confirm Shipley's claims made in the House.
Vassilodimitrakis was denied bail Wednesday afternoon after a video appearance in the Barrie courthouse.
On his social-media pages, Vassilodimitrakis can be seen incoherently rapping inside the police headquarters lobby on Fairview Road, and also alongside police vehicles parked downtown, kicking and striking one with his hand in one of the videos.
Most of his Facebook posts deal with police vehicles, police headquarters and other officer interactions.
