Barrie police say three people are in custody — including two male youths and an adult male — following a robbery on Essa Road, Saturday afternoon.
Police say the robbery occurred at a mobile phone business at 555 Essa Rd., near Mapleton Avenue, on Jan. 28 around 3:15 p.m.The suspects obtained an undisclosed amount of currency and several cellphones before fleeing in what was later determined to a stolen vehicle.
Barrie police immediately responded to the scene and a responding officer observed the suspects in the stolen car travelling on Essa Road. The vehicle entered onto Highway 400 and continued southbound at a high rate of speed only to be stopped by officers from the Aurora OPP as it exited at King Road, according to police.
The occupants of the vehicle were arrested by the OPP and transported back to Barrie Police Headquarters where the investigation continued.
As a result of the investigation, two 16-year-old males from Toronto, whose identity cannot be released under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) have been charged with:
- Robbery with violence
- Possession of property obtained by crime (two counts)
- Assault
- Assault with a weapon
- Forcible confinement
- Wearing a disguise.
An 18-year-old man, also from Toronto, has been charged with:
- Robbery with violence
- Possession of property obtained by crime (two counts).
All three suspects were held in custody for a bail hearing, which took place Sunday. Two of the accused, the 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old youth, were remanded in custody, while the other 16-year-old youth was released with a court date of Feb. 21, 2023.
