STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. --A veteran Dumfries police officer has been placed on administrative leave after being arrested in Stafford County over the weekend.
Deputies charged Keith Barrett, 49, with obstruction of justice and resisting arrest after a dispute at a home off Mountain View Road, said Stafford County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Bill Kennedy. Barrett was off duty at the time.
The incident began when deputies were called to the home for a report of two people arguing.
When deputies arrived and tried to sort things out, another man who does not live at the house showed up and became combative, Kennedy said.
That man, later identified as Barrett, also tried to interfere with the deputies’ investigation, he said.
After pleas from his family to calm down and threats of arrest from the authorities on the scene, deputies arrested Barrett.
A deputy placed Barrett in a cruiser until he was calm. He was later released on a summons to appear in court.
Barrett has been a Dumfries police officer for 10 years. He has been placed on leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation, said Acting Chief Raymond Colgan.
Barrett’s arrest comes just days after Dumfries officials announced the resignation of Officer John Chapman.
Chapman, who was suspended in March, chose to resign after being told that 13 violations of five different sections of the department's General Orders had been sustained.
Additionally, Chapman was found to have committed four violations of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Memorandum of Understanding. This includes a section that prohibits "electronically upload, transmit or forward pornography or sexually-explicit images."
Officers who investigate Internet crimes against children are never suppose to send out pornography even as part of an investigation.
No criminal charges were brought against Chapman.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-530-3905.
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