A routine traffic stop in Barrie early Friday ended with the seizure of a loaded handgun, a rifle, knives and a large quantity of Canadian cash, and charges against two Toronto residents.
Barrie police said officers on patrol in the area of Bayfield Street and Grove Street at about 12:30 a.m. saw a white pickup truck make a sudden U-turn on a section of road that slopes noticeably, prompting them to pull the vehicle over.
Police initially suspected impaired driving, according to Barrie police. Instead, officers allege they found the occupants in possession of a loaded .40-calibre handgun, an assortment of knives and a large amount of Canadian currency. A search also turned up a large rifle and ammunition.
A 26-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman, both from Toronto, were arrested at the scene. Each faces seven charges related to the possession and storage of the firearm, including possession while prohibited. Handguns are classified as prohibited firearms under Canadian law.
The case took a further turn when police discovered the woman was already out on release facing outstanding charges — and that the man arrested with her was acting as her surety under her current release order. As a result, she faces two additional charges of failing to comply with probation and failing to comply with a release order.
Police have not released the names of the accused. No further details about the investigation, including whether the seizure is linked to any other incidents in the region, have been made public.
The arrests come as Barrie officers continue patrols aimed at impaired driving and road safety, according to Barrie police, who have previously urged residents to report suspicious activity — even when they are not certain a crime has occurred.
Bayfield Street is one of Barrie's main north-south corridors, and the intersection with Grove Street sits in a busy residential and commercial stretch of the city's north end.
