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Couple says police officer partied at bonfire then crashed into parked car; police won’t investigate

Barr's Taurus after collision
Barr’s Taurus after collision

MASON CITY – An off-duty police officer attended a bonfire, then totaled a parked car after she crashed into it – but police say they will not be investigating the accident.

Following up on news tips from readers, NIT last week began to look into an auto accident that occurred on May 7 at about 1:45 AM.

In response to questions from NIT about this auto accident, Police Chief Jeff Brinkley said, “the collision that you are referring to occurred at the 1500 block of South Virginia on May 7 at about 1:45 AM. The vehicle owners exchanged information at that time.”

The accident was, specifically, in front of 1529 South Virginia.

Jennifer Barr, Mason City police officer
Jennifer Barr, Mason City police officer

A car was parked at this location that was owned by Barbie Larson. A red 2011 Ford Taurus driven by off-duty police officer Jennifer Barr struck Larson’s parked car, a white 2011 Toyota Camry.  Larson’s car was totaled and Barr’s car also incurred severe damage.  It has been in a body shop since then, undergoing repair, NIT is told.

Ms. Larson told NIT that the crash did happen at 1:45 AM, but Ms. Barr did not knock on the door of 1529 South Virginia – the house in which Ms. Larson was asleep – until 2:10 AM.  It’s not clear what happened for those 25 minutes.

Other neighbors heard the collision.  Some of these persons allegedly heard Ms. Barr attempting to start her damaged car.

“She knocked on my door and told us what happened,” Brad Brosdahl, the homeowner, told NIT.  “She was out there pulling on her wheel well, cussing and swearing.  She had been drinking; she admitted that.”

Damage to Larson's Camry
Damage to Larson’s Camry

Mr. Brosdahl says Ms. Barr claimed she “swerved to miss a deer” in the 25-mile-per-hour city street, and that caused the accident.

Ms. Larson and Ms. Barr traded insurance and other information for about 45 minutes and Barr mentioned she had been at a bonfire.  Barr promised to pick up all repair costs and incidentals connected to the accident.  She was then taken home by Mr. Brosdahl.  During the ride home, Barr was asked if she worked in town.  Barr said “yes” and did not elaborate.

“She talked her way out of the situation,” Ms. Larson and Mr. Brosdahl told NIT.  “She’s a single mom and we felt sorry for her.  So we accepted what she was telling us at the time.  She was withholding pertinent information from us to make a vital decision – that decision being, whether to call the police.”

Ms. Larson and Mr. Brosdahl say that because no one was hurt and because she was able to locate the owner of the damaged parked car, Barr was able to avoid initial contact with police.

Ms. Larson and Mr. Brosdahl say it was 3 to 4 hours later that they learned that Barr is a Mason City police officer from neighbors.  Ms. Barr had not revealed that to the couple during their discussion of the accident nor during the ride home.

Photos and evidence were gathered at the scene by Mr. Brosdahl over the next several hours after daylight.  Ms. Barr had her car towed from the scene by 7:30 AM.  Ms. Larson was due at work at 5:30 AM until 2:30 PM at her job as a registered nurse.

Police were then notified later that same day.

Mason City police headquarters
Mason City police headquarters

Chief Brinkley says the incident was reported to Mason City police at 5:15 PM.  Ms. Larson and Mr. Brosdahl went to the Mason City police headquarters in person at 4:45 PM to report the accident.

“Police put the onus on us to fill out a complaint form, to get the investigation open,” Ms. Larson and Mr. Brosdahl said.

They ended up speaking to Sgt. Steve Klemmas at police headquarters.

“This is going to be a mess,” Sgt. Klemmas allegedly told the couple as he took information from them about the accident.  They say he told them that Ms. Barr had been at a bonfire hours before the auto accident and that alcohol was consumed at that party – a party for police officers.  Not much else about this party is known to NIT other than that if Ms. Barr had consumed alcohol there, police officers likely would have witnessed it.  It is not known by NIT when Ms. Barr left the bonfire party.

Chief Brinkley explained to NIT that no crash investigation was done by the police department after the accident.

Screen Shot 2016-05-30 at 11.09.12 PM“We did not complete a crash investigation in this incident because we were called to the scene after the crash had occurred and the vehicles had been moved. We did make a call for service record that contains all of the driver and vehicle information. As such, there were no charges. We also do not have a record of the amount of damage.”

Chief Brinkley says the matter will be resolved by the owners and/or their insurance companies.

Ms. Larson and Mr. Brosdahl are pursuing the matter at this time because they say the financial loss is greater than what Ms. Barr’s insurance company is willing to pay out. Ms. Larson has a check from Barr’s insurance company already, and will not be cashing it.

Ms. Larson told NIT “I am the victim here.  She did wrong.”

NIT will report more as this developing situation unfolds.

Damage to curb said to have been caused by collision
Damage to curb said to have been caused by collision
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