It’s been a year since police shut down a homeless encampment near Barrie’s downtown, launching an investigation that captured the attention of the entire city.
Initially, investigators released very little information about the extensive police operation. However, as weeks passed, it evolved into a horrific criminal case involving allegations of two murders, dismemberments, and numerous charges.
This situation sparked a citywide discussion on homelessness, addiction, mental health, and public safety. It led to a state of emergency and caught the attention of officials in both Queen’s Park and Ottawa.
Let’s take a look back at key moments that influenced the police investigation:
July 31, 2025
Barrie Police closed off the Bradford Street encampment that stretched from Victoria Street to Anne Street. The strong police presence led to speculation as investigators provided almost no details to the public or media.
Police A section of Barrie’s south end shown cordoned off by police. The affected area stretches from Victoria Street to Anne Street in Barrie, Ont., on July 31, 2025. ( / Rob Cooper)
Aug. 1
Authorities named 52-year-old Robert Ladouceur-nicknamed “Tattoo Rob”-as a suspect in connection with the investigation and alerted the community that he was armed and dangerous.
Aug. 2
Ladouceur was arrested in Midland, Ontario. He faced charges for 19 offenses along with several weapons-related counts involving a handgun and evading arrest.
Robert Ladouceur Robert Ladouceur, 52, who also goes by ‘Tattoo Rob.’
Aug. 5
Detectives from Barrie Police Major Crime unit broadened their search into Huntsville area locations for more evidence.
Aug. 19
Initially facing drug and weapon charges, Ladouceur was later linked to an extensive homicide inquiry by Barrie police.
Court documents claimed that two men-45-year-old William Robinson and 41-year-old David Cheesequay-were murdered months apart with both bodies allegedly dismembered.
He has since been charged with additional offenses including first- and second-degree murder as well as indignity to a body. Ladouceur remains incarcerated.
Homicide Victims David Kyle Cheesequay (L) and William ‘Blake’ Robinson (R) are believed to be victims of a homicide in Barrie, Ont.
Sept. 9
Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall declared a state of emergency regarding homelessness and encampments while announcing zero tolerance for tents, violence, or drug use on public land.
class= ” c -paragraph “>Sept.11
class= ” c -paragraph “>The Mulcaster Street encampment was cleared out , with all 44 individuals residing there accepting temporary housing.
Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall declared a state of emergency over homelessness and encampments on Sept.9 ,2026 in Barrie , Ont.( )
class= ” c -paragraph “>Sept.16 -20
class= ” c -paragraph “>The mayor reached out to both Queen ’ s Park and Ottawa for assistance , stating that Barrie ’ s situation had reached a “ breaking point.”
class= ” c -paragraph “>Premier Doug Ford later visited one of Barrie’s largest encampments , Milligan’s Pond , alongside Nuttall , promising further provincial support.
Doug Ford in Barrie Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall ( left )and Ontario Premier Doug Ford (Right) tour encampments in Barr ie , Ont., on Sat., Sept.20 ,2025.( Source: Supplied )
class =” c – paragraph “>Sept.23-24
After declaring these changes were necessary; Nuttall started petitioning publicly seeking reforms surrounding mental health legislation along with additional funding for treatment services.
The initial Bradford street camp dismantled following day saw ten out of seventeen residents accept accommodation offered by authorities.
Barr ie po lice at th e encam pm ent Barr ie po lice at th e en campm ent located at80 B radford St reet in B arr ie O nt., on Nov,.21st2024.(O ntario Chronicle R ob/Cooper)
Se pt.26
The fed eral gove rn ment responded by emphasizing millions already earmarked for housing initiatives including$35 million allocated towards services within B arr ie spanning2019 through2028.
Oc t..2
>Council agreed upon stricter bylaws granting cities more authority concerning campsites while implementing regulations regarding camping activities sidewalk obstruction alongside public spaces. Bill110 now replaces existing laws empowering officers regulate behaviors municipal property. Oct.6 The city reported four major camps had been removed although twenty-six still persisted sheltering roughly one hundred eleven individuals fall. Nov.6 Mayor Nuttall took discussions nationwide speaking up against this issue during meetings held across Vancouver where he collaborated closely alongside Calgary ’s Jeromy Farkas Alberta’s Rick Wilson focusing solutions addressing homelessness & addiction respectively. Jan.2026 By January; it became apparent fewer than two tents remained throughout winter marking significant progress achieved thus far according remarks made previous Mayoral officeholder. Feb.2026 Continuing engagement efforts prompted travels towards Alberta aimed understanding strategies municipalities employing tackle similar challenges encountered here meeting various stakeholders involved recovery programming setup last week. Where do we stand today? A continual State Emergency persists without an expected conclusion date set forth yet.”Beyond just concentrating addressing immediate needs,”Mayor emphasized determining lasting solutions must involve collaboratively working together despite opposition arising now from local law enforcement officers themselves recently increasing penalties landlords where illegal operations thrive openly presently visible around town.” According spokesperson City Administration over weekend ”less than eight sites remain active amongst total reported273 since beginning crisis unfolded.” On September9th; the emergency will hit its anniversary mark being officially enacted one year ago now.
Enc ampmen t Garbage overflowingahomelessencam pentnearthe downtownin B arri e, O nt., whichisundergoingmajorcleanup efforts.(Obtainedby )En campme nt Garb ageoverflow ingahomelessencam pentnearthedowntownin B arri e, O nt., whichisundergoingmajorcleanup efforts.(Obtainedby )En campme nt Garbageoverflow ingahomelessencam pentnearthedowntownin B arri e, O nt., which is undergoing majorcleanup efforts.(Obtainedby )En campmen t Garbage overflowingahomelessenc ampenearth edowntownin Ba rrie, Ont., which is underg oing major cleanup effort s.(Obtainedby Ontar io Chronic le)Enc ampme nt Garb age overflow ing ah omeless en campm entn ear downtown B arr i e, O nt., wh ichi su nd ergoin gma jor cleanup effor ts.(Obtain edb y On tario Chro ni cle)Enc amp ment G arb age overflow ing ah omelesse ncampm entn ear downt own Bar ri e, Ont., whic hisu nd ergoi ngma jor cleanupefforts.(Obtain edb y O nta rio Chro ni cle)En campe ment Gar bage overflow ing ah omeles sen ca mpm entn ear downt own Bar ri e, Ont., whic his un der goi ng ma jor cleanup effo rts.(Obtai ned b y On tario Chro ni cle )![]()
E nc amp men t G arb age overflow ing ah omel essen ca mp men tn ea rd ow nto wn Ba rri ae n O ntt hi ch is un der goi ng maj orclean up ef fo rt s. ( Obt ai ne db y On ta rio Ch ron ic le )
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Robert Ladouceur Robert Ladouceur, 52, who also goes by ‘Tattoo Rob.’
Aug. 5
Detectives from Barrie Police Major Crime unit broadened their search into Huntsville area locations for more evidence.
Aug. 19
Initially facing drug and weapon charges, Ladouceur was later linked to an extensive homicide inquiry by Barrie police.
Court documents claimed that two men-45-year-old William Robinson and 41-year-old David Cheesequay-were murdered months apart with both bodies allegedly dismembered.
He has since been charged with additional offenses including first- and second-degree murder as well as indignity to a body. Ladouceur remains incarcerated.
Homicide Victims David Kyle Cheesequay (L) and William ‘Blake’ Robinson (R) are believed to be victims of a homicide in Barrie, Ont.
Sept. 9
Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall declared a state of emergency regarding homelessness and encampments while announcing zero tolerance for tents, violence, or drug use on public land.
class= ” c -paragraph “>Sept.11
class= ” c -paragraph “>The Mulcaster Street encampment was cleared out , with all 44 individuals residing there accepting temporary housing.Barr ie po lice at th e encam pm ent Barr ie po lice at th e en campm ent located at80 B radford St reet in B arr ie O nt., on Nov,.21st2024.(O ntario Chronicle R ob/Cooper)
Se pt.26
The fed eral gove rn ment responded by emphasizing millions already earmarked for housing initiatives including$35 million allocated towards services within B arr ie spanning2019 through2028.
Oc t..2
>Council agreed upon stricter bylaws granting cities more authority concerning campsites while implementing regulations regarding camping activities sidewalk obstruction alongside public spaces. Bill110 now replaces existing laws empowering officers regulate behaviors municipal property. Oct.6 The city reported four major camps had been removed although twenty-six still persisted sheltering roughly one hundred eleven individuals fall. Nov.6 Mayor Nuttall took discussions nationwide speaking up against this issue during meetings held across Vancouver where he collaborated closely alongside Calgary ’s Jeromy Farkas Alberta’s Rick Wilson focusing solutions addressing homelessness & addiction respectively. Jan.2026 By January; it became apparent fewer than two tents remained throughout winter marking significant progress achieved thus far according remarks made previous Mayoral officeholder. Feb.2026 Continuing engagement efforts prompted travels towards Alberta aimed understanding strategies municipalities employing tackle similar challenges encountered here meeting various stakeholders involved recovery programming setup last week. Where do we stand today? A continual State Emergency persists without an expected conclusion date set forth yet.”Beyond just concentrating addressing immediate needs,”Mayor emphasized determining lasting solutions must involve collaboratively working together despite opposition arising now from local law enforcement officers themselves recently increasing penalties landlords where illegal operations thrive openly presently visible around town.” According spokesperson City Administration over weekend ”less than eight sites remain active amongst total reported273 since beginning crisis unfolded.” On September9th; the emergency will hit its anniversary mark being officially enacted one year ago now.Enc ampmen t Garbage overflowingahomelessencam pentnearthe downtownin B arri e, O nt., whichisundergoingmajorcleanup efforts.(Obtainedby )En campme nt Garb ageoverflow ingahomelessencam pentnearthedowntownin B arri e, O nt., whichisundergoingmajorcleanup efforts.(Obtainedby )En campme nt Garbageoverflow ingahomelessencam pentnearthedowntownin B arri e, O nt., which is undergoing majorcleanup efforts.(Obtainedby )En campmen t Garbage overflowingahomelessenc ampenearth edowntownin Ba rrie, Ont., which is underg oing major cleanup effort s.(Obtainedby Ontar io Chronic le)Enc ampme nt Garb age overflow ing ah omeless en campm entn ear downtown B arr i e, O nt., wh ichi su nd ergoin gma jor cleanup effor ts.(Obtain edb y On tario Chro ni cle)Enc amp ment G arb age overflow ing ah omelesse ncampm entn ear downt own Bar ri e, Ont., whic hisu nd ergoi ngma jor cleanupefforts.(Obtain edb y O nta rio Chro ni cle)En campe ment Gar bage overflow ing ah omeles sen ca mpm entn ear downt own Bar ri e, Ont., whic his un der goi ng ma jor cleanup effo rts.(Obtai ned b y On tario Chro ni cle )Source link
