Man sentenced after pleading guilty to stabbing Barrie police officer

Nick Vassilodimitrakis appeared in a Barrie courtroom Thursday morning representing himself by video from a detention centre in London, Ont. where he pleaded guilty to stabbing veteran Barrie police officer Jim Peters.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to assaulting the officer with the knife and breach of probation, and was sentenced to 18 months in custody, with credit for having already spent 71 days behind bars, leaving him with 469 more days in custody.

Police said officers were called to the McDonald’s on Bayfield Street in Barrie on September 29 following reports of a man armed with a knife.

Police said after the suspect was escorted from the restaurant, an officer was stabbed and suffered serious injuries to his knee and bicep. The knee laceration, police said, resulted in significant blood loss and required a tourniquet.

Const. Peters has since returned to work.

The case made headlines and drew the attention of Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MP Doug Shipley, who addressed the stabbing in parliament, describing Vassilodimitrakis as having been “arrested and released 17 times” and having over 100 interactions with Barrie police.

“I’m glad he pleaded guilty. He shouldn’t have been out in the first place to commit this crime,” Shipley said on Thursday in a phone interview with CTV News. “We’re letting too many repeat offenders out to commit this type of crime.”

Vassilodimitrakis was denied bail last month following the stabbing.

According to court documents, Vassilodimitrakis has a lengthy criminal record, and has struggled for years with his mental health.

“People are calling me repeatedly that they’re tired of criminals getting arrested and released. Many, many police associations have called for bail reform. It’s time something is done,” Shipley added.

The Barrie Police Association has joined the Toronto Police Association, Ontario Provincial Police Association and the Police Association of Ontario calling for bail reform and tougher sentences.

As part of his sentence, Vassilodimitrakis is banned from visiting the McDonald’s location in Barrie.