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Area man charged with kidnapping, assault after altercations at two businesses

Police allege 22-year-old ordered driver to flee after assault at Orillia businesses; Driver managed to escape a short time later
2018 opp-car
Ontario Provincial Police photo

NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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Members of the Orillia detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) arrested and charged an individual with robbery, assault and kidnapping following an incident in Orillia.

On March 30 at approximately 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 individual 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, of Orillia, has been charged 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.

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