A 16-year-old youth has been charged after Barrie police say they discharged pepper spray inside a pizza shop in the city’s north end yesterday.
On Sept. 25, shortly after 12:30 p.m., police say an officer was on patrol in the area of St. Vincent Street and Cundles Road East when he was flagged down by a business owner after a youth, who had been previously trespassing on the business property, was just in his store and released pepper spray in the bathroom.
The youth had just fled the area on foot when officers were able to locate him a short distance away. He was arrested without incident, police say.
The teen was transported to police headquarters on Fairview Road where the investigation continued.
As a result of the investigation, the youth, who cannot be identified due to provisions contained within the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), has been charged with mischief under $5,000 and administering a noxious substance with “intent to aggrieve or annoy."
He was later released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie in mid-October.
None of the allegations have been tested in court.
