Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport Director Rob Barnett was arrested Thursday by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office on one charge of impersonating a peace officer, a Class D felony. Barnett has been released from jail and has an arraignment scheduled for April 26.
According to a police citation from DCSO, Barnett was arrested at his residence in Utica at 5:35 p.m. Thursday. A criminal complaint had been filed by a DCSO deputy the day before at noon.
According to reports, DCSO deputies were dispatched to a disturbance at a residence in the 2300 block of Blossom Court at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 22. Upon arrival, deputies contacted the male involved, identified as Robert Barnett, Jr., who resides at the home.
“During the interaction with deputies on the call, Barnett identified himself as a law enforcement officer and produced a badge indicating the same,” according to the report summary. “A subsequent investigation of the events after the conclusion of the call revealed that Barnett is not a sworn law enforcement officer with any local or state agency at this time.”
According to DCSO, an arrest warrant was obtained for Barnett for impersonating a peace officer through the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.
According to the report, Barnett was arrested on Thursday without incident and was lodged in the Daviess County Detention Center.
According to court documents, Barnett posted a $5,000 unsecured bond Thursday.
Barnett was hired by the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport (OWB) Board of Directors in November of 2018.
Though the airport’s board is appointed by Daviess County Fiscal Court, personnel matters are controlled by the Board.
Airport Board Chairman Madison Silvert said they were aware of Barnett’s arrest, but Silvert said the Board did not comment on personnel matters.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials said the incident would be handled by local officials.
“The airport is owned by the city and county and as such it is a matter for local officials,” said Tammy L. Jones, spokesperson for the FAA Office of Communications.
Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson and Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly each said they preferred not to comment at this time.
“It really is in the hands of the Airport Board,” Mattingly said. “We appoint the board and they hire the director.”
Owensboro Times made multiple unsuccessful attempts to reach Barnett for comment.
According to Kentucky state law, “A person is guilty of impersonating a peace officer if he pretends to be a peace officer, or to represent a law enforcement agency or act with the authority or approval of law enforcement agency, with intent to induce another to submit to the pretended official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon the pretense to his prejudice.”
The crime is a Class D felony and is punishable by one to five years in prison.
