Barrie cop charged with criminal negligence in shooting
Article content
BARRIE — A Barrie Police officer who fired shots at a getaway vehicle, injuring one man, after a passenger allegedly stole a wallet has now been charged.
Sgt. Mike Chytuk faces a criminal negligence causing bodily harm charge in connection with the Sept. 17 shooting, the province’s Special Investigations Unit says.
Recommended Videos
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Barrie cop charged with criminal negligence in shooting Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
According to details read out by the Crown at a bail hearing held the following day, the incident began around 4 a.m. when two 16-year-old females from Toronto are alleged to have been dropped off at a Barrie plaza where they “lured” two men to a nearby park with an offer for “sexual services.”
While one teen reached into one man’s pocket to grab his wallet, the other sprayed the men with an unknown substance. The teens then ran and jumped into a waiting vehicle while the two bewildered men called 911. Police caught up with the vehicle at a gas station, but the vehicle sped away.
“As the vehicle fled the scene, it accelerated toward the attending police officer, coming within a foot of striking him,” Crown attorney Lorne McConnery said at the bail hearing.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
It was at that point that Chytuk allegedly fired a round towards the back of the vehicle, hitting one of the men inside.
A short pursuit ensued and the vehicle crashed into a tree at St. Vincent and Blake St. All four fled on foot.
Three of the occupants were quickly apprehended but the fourth man got away. That man, Ashtoney Thompson, 21, made his way to the Barrie hospital, where medical staff reported to police that a man had been shot.
Thompson was treated for a gunshot injury and released. He made his way to Toronto and eluded police for several weeks. He was eventually caught and his case has been transferred to Toronto.
The other three were released on bail Sept. 18 charged with robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and dangerous driving.
Chytuk has had run-ins with the law in the past. In 2003 he was charged with discreditable conduct under the Police Act for impaired driving in one incident, and in a second incident for leaving a bar in a drunken state while off duty, and kicking a black civilian in the buttocks and “calling him the N word” while attempting to arrest him, according to witnesses who testified at the hearing.
Chytuk will be back in court facing the new charges Feb. 4.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.