Barrie man accused of threatening citizens with utility knife at Meridian Place

Meridian Place in downtown Barrie, Ont., in this file image. (Meridian Place)

A 26-year-old Barrie man is facing assault charges after police say he threatened two people with a utility knife at Meridian Place.

It happened Wed., May 27 around 7:45 p.m. after the suspect approached two citizens on Simcoe Street and asked for cigarettes.

After they declined, police say the man became agitated.

When one of the people confronted him, officers say he flashed a utility knife, extended the blade and threatened to cause harm before fleeing west on Dunlop Street.

Investigators reviewed CCTV footage and found the man matching the description less than an hour later. Police say he was arrested and a utility knife was seized.

The accused has been charged with two counts of assault, assault with a weapon, uttering threats to cause bodily harm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and failure to comply with a probation order.

No injuries were reported.