No injuries have been reported after local security officers and members of the Barrie police community safety and well-being unit were confronted by a man waving a knife Wednesday afternoon.
Just before 1 p.m. on Nov. 27, officers were at a Bayfield Street store conducting a retail business check when they encountered a man who was allegedly attempting to leave after shoplifting a “quantity of product” from the store, according to a Barrie police news release.
Police say the accused, a 54-year-old man of no fixed address, was armed with an “edged weapon” and "waved" it at security as he tried to leave the store.
“As this was taking place and part of their assigned duties, police arrived, immediately defused the situation and took the male into custody,” police say.
From the investigation that followed, police allege the same man had just been involved in a similar theft minutes earlier in the downtown area.
“After a quick search of the parking lot, police were able to locate the arrested male’s motor vehicle and located stolen property from the earlier theft," stated the release.
The accused was taken to Barrie police headquarters on Fairview Drive where he was formally charged with theft under $5,000, robbery with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, carry concealed weapon, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 and assault with a weapon.
The man has been held in custody and was scheduled to appear by video for a bail hearing today at the Barrie courthouse.
There were no injuries sustained in either of the incidents, say police, and all the stolen property has been returned to the stores.
