The OPP arrested and charged an individual with robbery, assault and kidnapping following an incident in Orillia.
On March 30, 2022, at 11:40 p.m., Orillia OPP responded to a robbery in progress at a local business on Memorial Avenue.
An individual entered the business, brandished a metal pipe, demanded money and fled after an altercation with an employee.
The suspect then entered another nearby business, demanded money and fled after an altercation with a patron.
Upon exiting the business, the individual entered a vehicle and ordered the owner to drive away from the scene. The driver escaped from the vehicle a short distance away. The individual then left in the stolen vehicle at a high rate of speed, before becoming involved in a single-vehicle collision a short time later.
The individual was arrested at the scene, transported to hospital as a precaution and later released.
As a result of the investigation, James Fraser, 22 years of age, of Orillia, has been charged contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (CC) with the following:
· Kidnapping,
· Robbery with Violence – two counts
· Assault with A Weapon – two counts
· Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose – two counts
· Theft Over $5,000 of a Motor Vehicle
· Possession Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
· Assault
· Mischief Under $5,000
· Dangerous operation
· Fail to Comply with Probation Order – four counts
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Orillia OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.