Man accused of impersonating fire personnel at incident scenes pleads no contest
Jason Edward Barnes, 48, entered no contest pleas June 27 in three separate cases in Macomb County Circuit Court.
He pleaded no contest to three counts of impersonating firefighter/EMS personnel; one count each of weapons-firearms possession by a prohibited person and weapons-ammunition possession by a prohibited person, and one count of unlawful use of fire emblems/logos, according to online court records.
The records indicate a Cobbs agreement to no additional incarceration. They also indicate the court is requesting a psychological evaluation prior to sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 19.
Barnes' attorney, Kevin Kijewski, said July 2 that his client has no comment.
County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a news release July 2 that the pleas bring accountability.
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"Impersonating a first responder, whether it be law enforcement, fire, or EMS, is a serious offense that undermines public trust and puts our community at risk," he indicated in the release. "These roles carry tremendous responsibility and authority. Abusing that trust for personal gain or deception cannot be tolerated."
The offenses occurred in 2023 and 2024. The prosecutor's office announced charges against Barnes in June 2024.
It indicated in its July 2 release that Barnes is accused of representing himself as a first responder and offering assistance to a Clinton Township police officer Oct. 19, 2023, when the officer was at a residence where a homicide occurred. That event led to additional investigation into Barnes, it indicated.
In June 2024, prosecutors announced that Barnes was arraigned in connection with impersonating fire personnel two other times. In their 2024 release, they indicated that on May 5, 2024, he came to the scene of a homicide with a badge, introduced himself as a fire captain and tried to gain entry into the home where a death investigation was being conducted.
They also indicated that on May 28, 2024, he came to a fire investigation outfitted in firefighter gear with a badge and spoke with officers at the scene.
Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @challreporter.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Man accused of impersonating fire personnel at incident scenes pleads
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