A warrant has been requested for a 43-year-old male suspect in connection to what Barrie police say were "very obscene and disturbing messages" found around the community.
Last week, Barrie police investigated a number of occurrences where graffiti messages were left in public areas.
In one such incident, investigators say a picture of the disturbing message was posted to a social media platform, which resulted in a number of calls to police.
On Tuesday, July 25, Barrie police say officers went to Sunnidale Park and located a construction fence where a message was left, but it had been painted over.
Two days later, a wall at Nouvelle-Alliance high school on Anne Street, a picnic table, a door to the school, parking lot signs, and construction signs were vandalized. Again, disturbing messaging was left behind, police say.
Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon called the messages "vile and disturbing."
"These were vile and disturbing messages targeting women and girls and there is no place for that anywhere," he said. "For someone to take the time to do what they did is hugely disrespectful to women and young girls."
On Monday, July 31, city police say a detective from the Barrie police criminal investigation division obtained video surveillance that helped identify the suspect linked to the acts of mischief.
A warrant for the suspect's arrest has been requested, said Leon, but he added that police were waiting to name him until he was apprehended.
"We don't want to name him and then have him disappear so when we have him we will release more information," he said.
Leon also explained how the suspect was recognized.
"In this case, we took the images we received and sent them around the police service where members of the service were able to identify the person. They have great memories and it comes in handy in situations like this," he added.
As for charges that could be laid in a situation like this, Leon said that at the very least, mischief charges would be warranted, but that there is a section of the Criminal Code that deals with lewd messaging.
"At the end of the day, this is a really disheartening, senseless message left in the public's view and once we have this person in custody we will certainly share information with the community," he said.
