Barrie police have issued an arrest warrant for a 36-year-old man who is a suspect in an SUV explosion in a parking lot of an apartment complex last fall.
Police were called to a 108A Anne Street just before 3 a.m. on Sept. 27, 2023 where the parked SUV was located and found damage to the vehicle and a car that was parked next to it. A short distance away, investigators located an unexploded improvised explosive device (IED) in a garden. The device was detonated by a police bomb squad.
There was a partial evacuation of two buildings adjacent to the scene and several roads were closed for hours.
At the time, pictures of the SUV showed a hole in the vehicle where the gas tank was located, and police said it appeared if an IED was "placed in and around that area."
As part of the investigation, police have identified William Ivan Downey as a suspect.
"He is believed to be somewhere in the Greater Toronto Area, with a strong belief that he could be somewhere in Toronto, York Region, or Durham Region," police stated in a news release on Monday.
Investigators believe Downey may have changed his appearance by shaving his head.
Otherwise, he is described as being 5'5", 160 lbs., with a slim build and a full beard.
"Given the nature of the pending charges, police are encouraging anyone who knows the whereabouts of William Ivan Downey to not approach him, but to call 911 immediately," according to the police news release.
Barrie 360 asked police on Monday if the suspect specifically targeted the SUV and if the person knew the owner of the vehicle.
"It's a very good question and I am sure a lot of people would like to know the answer to that," said Barrie police communications coordinator Peter Leon. "That actually does form part of our ongoing investigation, so I really can't get into the specifics of that at this time. But we strongly believe that he was in our area for a specific purpose."
If you have information regarding the suspect, you can also contact the Barrie Police Service tip line at 705-725-7025 Ext 2160 or the lead investigator Det/Const HOWE at dhowe@barriepolice.ca.
Further details will be provided only as the investigation permits.
Banner image supplied - Barrie Police Service
