The Special Investigations Unit is looking into an incident where a suspect in a drug arrest was injured during an “interaction with police” Tuesday in Barrie.
Late in the afternoon, officers from the city’s Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) were conducting an unrelated investigation in downtown Barrie when they observed a man in the area of Meridian Place who they believed was in possession of a firearm, according to police.
As a result of the investigation that followed, police also learned that the 21-year-old man from Brampton was “actively conducting drug transactions throughout the downtown area.”
Just before 8 p.m., the man was taken into custody on Mary Street where he was arrested for possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking.
During the arrest, there was an "interaction" with police, and the accused sustained an injury. As a result, the SIU was notified, and has “invoked their mandate,” according to police.
Police say the man was later found to be in possession of a loaded semi-automatic firearm, a quantity of Canadian currency, as well as suspected cocaine and fentanyl.
The accused was transported to police headquarters on Fairview Road where the investigation continued, and he is currently facing a slew of firearms, drug and other Criminal Code charges related to the investigation.
He was held in custody and was scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing.
The SIU is a civilian law enforcement agency in Ontario which has jurisdiction over municipal, regional and provincial police officers, as well as special constables and peace officers.
The unit may conduct a criminal investigation into any incident which involves death, serious injury, discharge of a firearm, or sexual assault, if the incident may have resulted from criminal conduct by an officer, according to their website.
