Orillia man accused in violent stabbing denied bail
David Shirk, an Orillia man with a history of arrests and addiction, was denied bail on Tuesday after being accused of a stabbing that sent a man to the hospital in November.
Shirk's sisters, Tracy Tilly and Kelly Aulbrook, stand by their brother, supporting the man they say has struggled with addiction for years.
"If I ever needed him when I was in my abusive situation, I called David. David was there for me," said Tilly. "Yeah, drugs suck. Drugs ruined his life. It literally ruined him."
"He fell off the wagon. You know, they all do at some point in their life," said Aulbrook. "We're going to fight to get him better, and we want him back."
Shirk, an alleged fentanyl trafficker, was arrested in December with charges including assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, robbery and wounding.
He also failed to comply with a probation order following allegations of a violent altercation in Orillia that sent one person to the hospital with stab wounds to his abdomen, neck and hands.
Shirk has been arrested on six different occasions dating back to 2011, but his most recent charges have come following a breakup with his longtime partner that loved ones say led him to another relapse.
"This isn't the David I know and miss." shared Tilly.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
The court heard officers say that in 2022, while on a call about a suspected overdose, they found Shirk, who provided a false name and then fled from police.
It's alleged Shirk's pitbull attacked the arresting officer, who suffered injuries to his face.
Police claim a large amount of drugs were found that day, including suspected cocaine, along with blue and green fentanyl.
The Crown noted Shirk has 44 offences before the court, including 10 allegations of violence, saying Shirk has eight prior convictions and has breached two previous releases.
His sisters told CTV News Shirk is a loving father and brother who is now getting clean in jail. They hope he is on the road to recovery and redemption.
"I love my brother, and I just want him back. I wanted to be the old David, and he is coming back," Tilly finished.
Shirk will make his next appearance in a week from jail in Penetanguishene.
The allegations against him have not been tested in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
opinion RFK Jr.'s presidential candidacy and its potential threat to Biden and Trump
Although it's still unclear how much damage Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s candidacy can do to either Joe Biden or Donald Trump this election, Washington political columnist Eric Ham says what is clear is both sides recognize the potential threat.
Haida elder suing Catholic Church and priest, hopes for 'healing and reconciliation'
The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a proposed class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
It's 30 years since apartheid ended. South Africa's celebrations are set against growing discontent
South Africa marked 30 years since the end of apartheid and the birth of its democracy with a ceremony in the capital Saturday that included a 21-gun salute and the waving of the nation's multicolored flag.