Former MPD officer arrested again for stalking ex-fiancee
MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - A former Memphis police officer, previously arrested for stalking his ex-fiancee, found himself in handcuffs again after violating a restraining order and stalking the same victim.
Tuesday, February 16, Memphis police were called to the 200 block of South Main Street to investigate a vandalism.
Former officer Joshua Barnes' ex-fiancee showed officers the smashed windshield of her car.
She explained how she caught Barnes outside her workplace after he vandalized her car. According to the police report, surveillance video recorded the incident.
Barnes, 28, was arrested and charged with vandalism, aggravated stalking, violation of bail conditions, violation of an order of protection, and contempt of court.
Memphis Police Department said Barnes' case would be handled like any other case, despite his previous employment as an officer.
Joshua Barnes is no longer an employee with the Memphis Police Department. He was arrested on warrants for Felony Aggravated Stalking, Violation of an Order of Protection, and 3 additional misdemeanor charges. Regardless of Mr. Barnes' past employment with the Memphis Police Dept. this case will be handled just like any other.
Barnes' second arrest was news to his dogsitter.
"I had no idea. He was supposed to be on vacation," she said.
He was previously arrested on January 13 after he was accused of placing a tracking device underneath her car. Barnes was an officer with the Memphis Police Department at the time of that arrest.
He is no longer an officer with the department.
An active order of protection remains in place in Desoto County, Mississippi against Barnes. The order expires April 28, 2016.
Deborah Clubb, a representative for the Memphis Area Women's Council, agreed that court-issued orders of protection are not perfect.
"But this is as good as we have right now and it does trigger immediate police response, if you can get them there," Clubb said.
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