Orillia OPP have arrested and charged two people following an incident earlier today where an officer was struck by a vehicle attempting to flee police.
The officer suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Simcoe County paramedics.
Police say at about 7:35 a.m., officers responded to a traffic complaint at Ridge Road West and Black Forest Lane in Oro-Medonte Township.
It was reported a driver was asleep and slumped over the steering wheel of a parked vehicle with its engine running.
Upon arriving on scene, the officer approached the vehicle in question to investigate, opening the door to check on the driver, the OPP said in a release.
According to police, the driver woke up and became combative with the officer, shifting the vehicle into reverse and striking the officer with the vehicle in attempting to flee.
Moments later other officers arrived and the vehicle was stopped by a police cruiser, making contact with it.
Police say the driver did not comply with demands to exit the vehicle and had to be removed by officers. The driver was placed under arrest, as was a passenger.
Following the arrest police continued to investigate and recovered a quantity of drugs, cash and weapons including a loaded 9mm handgun which was accessible to the driver and passenger, police say.
Police say both occupants of the vehicle were on probation and prohibited from having weapons. The driver was also prohibited from driving, police said.
The following items have been seized as evidence:
- 9mm handgun
- 9mm ammunition
- Knife
- Fentanyl
- $3,965 Canadian currency
Gary Hirsch, 33, of Barrie, has been charged with 32 criminal charges:
- Fail to comply with probation order x4
- Fraud related charges x5
- Stolen property related charges x2
- Possession of controlled substance x2
- Possession of controlled substance for purpose of trafficking
- Assault Police with a weapon
- Resist Peace Officer
- Flight from Police
- Operation while prohibited
- Dangerous Operation
- Impaired Operation
- Weapons related charges x12
Ashley McLinden, 33, of Barrie, has been charged with 26 criminal charges:
- Fail to comply with probation order x3
- Fraud related charges x5
- Stolen property related charges x3
- Possession of controlled substance x2
- Possession of controlled substance for purpose of trafficking
- Obstruct Peace Officer
- Weapons related charges x11
Both accused have been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
None of the allegations have been tested in court and Hirsch and McLinden are considered innocent unless proven guilty.
