Arrest Made in Suspected Fentanyl Overdose

Occurrence #: BA16049507

Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2016 – 11:00am

Investigators have arrested and charged one male in connection to the five overdoses that occurred in downtown Barrie Sunday, October 2, 2016 just after midnight.

On Sunday morning a male appeared to be in medical distress and had laboured breathing. EMS attended a short while after Police were on scene and treated the 25-year-old Orillia male.

While Police were on scene, a second male, a 26-year-old from Toronto, collapsed on the roadway in the same area. Then a third male, a 26-year-old from Barrie, collapsed a few moments later. The males were transported to the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre.

A half hour later a 22-year-old female from Barrie collapsed in the area of Fred Grant Square and went unresponsive. She was transported to hospital by EMS.

During the investigation Police learned that a fourth male, a 29-year- old from Barrie, had been taken to the hospital by EMS. The four males and one female had attended a party together earlier in the evening and it is believed that they used cocaine and consumed alcohol.

A 22-year-old Barrie male has been arrested and charged with; two counts of Trafficking a Schedule I substance and five counts of Criminal Negligence Causing Bodily Harm. He will appear in bail court Tuesday, October, 4, 2016.

The investigation is ongoing and police are awaiting toxicology reports.

Prepared by: Constable S. Bamford # 7419

Over 150,000 Monthly Readers! 1 Million+ Across the entire FreePress Network.