Residents evacuated from Barrie, Ont. street for police investigation

Editor’s note: On April 5, 2024, police issued an update explaining that police were given inaccurate information by the 911 caller.

Residents in downtown Barrie had a surprise wake-up call when police evacuated those living on a section of Dunlop Street just after midnight on Thursday morning.

Police say a section of Dunlop Street between Toronto and Maple streets was closed for an ongoing police investigation. The road has since reopened.

Barrie Police corporate communications coordinator Peter Leon says those in the area were temporarily evacuated for their own safety.

“We have done everything that is required and necessary in the interest of public safety to remove those that would be closely associated with the ongoing investigation. Arrangements were made for a transit bus to keep them warm for the time being, given the weather we had overnight,” he says.

Leon would not say what is happening, citing the ongoing investigation, but he says police have been in the area since receiving a call.

In an update on X, formerly known as Twitter, Thursday afternoon, police said they were responding to a report of a weapon on Dunlop Street West, which led to the partial road closure.

Police say the investigation remains ongoing and is considered an isolated incident.

Further details will be provided as they become available.