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.
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.”
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.
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.
“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.
If reported to police within 72 hours of incident an investigation should have been done.
As a resident of Minnesota,I frequently review the news from mason city, I have to say it is quite comical the way the city department leaders deal with issues.
Also, in my uneducated opinion that curb damage looks old to me.
She was off duty and she found the owners and offered to pay for the damage. Just because she’d been at a party doesn’t mean she was drunk, although could have consumed some alcohol.
And how do u know that she has done what she offered? Maybe she hasn’t even contacted them since the accident? Don’t tell me if this happened to u that u would be ok with the outcome?
This is a person who took an oath to uphold the law and instead acted like a twatwaffle
Moral of the story: If you work for the MCPD don’t worry about any charges ever being filed against you, drink all you want and run into all the parked cars around the city you want to. Just ask Klemas.
So if you get in a accident and just pay for damages there will not be charges filed. This is very interesting. Because a friend of mine did the same thing and had charges filed on him. So when you get in accident no charges can be filed that is good to know. I would be curious on how many people have had charges filed on them in Mason City after being in a accident. If any charges would be filed they should all get there fines back.
This guy just told the whole world he gave an intoxicaed woman a ride home in the early morning hours. That kind of info you need to keep to yourself.
If anyone here has ever gotten a WARNING for speeding, seat belt, whatever…. INSTEAD of a FINE/TICKET, then you have no right to complain! Because you took advantage of the same set of laws too!
I like how EVERYONE here is acting like their job doesn’t come with any perks and that they are ALL perfect law abiding citizens.
Think about this scenario…you decide to marry. The next day a friend ask if his or her young children are going to live with you. You had no idea he or she had children. Your new spouse failed to divulge pertinent information (the young children). This would be important information to know in making an educated or lifetime decision to marry. Well folks, the Police Officer obviously didn’t divulge some pertinent information in this scenario such as she is a Police Officer. Unethical, unfair and unjust to anyone in the public.
So if she had been an auto mechanic was she supposed to offer to fix it as well??
Everyone always bitches about how cops should be out catching criminals and putting away drug dealers, but now you all want them to waste their time with the details of a fender bender?
It sounds like the cars are gonna get fixed. Get over it.
The curb? Has dirt and grass in it. Plus, what ? I suppose the tire did that damage? Because that would be the only part of the car to hit a curb.
The shiny new white Toyota? I DOUBT its totaled!
WHY were no charges filed? It was obviously her fault since the car was parked and probably drunk given the time. This and the Klemas crash shows the kind od police chief we just hired.
Did you expect anymore from him? Let’s not forget who hired him.
He is new on the job and still getting his feet wet. He is a dedicated law officer just doing his job.
Jennifer Barr was having an Affair on her husband…years ago..
The couple should have called the police at the scene.
They need to FIRE HER… This is why I don’t care for the MCPD… To me MCPD is a Big Joke…..
Much todo about nothing. Mason City and our country has much bigger problems. We have a ton of illegal immigrants here wanting to do harm to us.
Get her out of here,just know how to lie to save her ass.Cops are suppose to set an example not be an example.This is why people dont always trust cops when this type of cover up keeps going on even with the new chief.With that much damage 25 mph. Ya right we are just a bunch of dummies to believe that.Now what I’ve would of done,gave her a ride a home,not would of dropped her at police station.Drive drunk,single MOM she of all people should know what could of happened.And again at a party for cops bonfire and alcohol and people were let to leave and drive after.REALLY BAD judgement and no one can disagree with that.
Do as I say not as I do, double minded.
That’s what you get when you get a “OUTSIDE” chief. He doesn’t want to have any of his troops against him. Hope the fire department learns from this, promote from within!!!!!
Wow! Once again, there are two sets of laws, one for citizens and one for law enforcement!!!
There is no requirement to report accident to police in Iowa. You must only report to DOT. 321.266
You sound like a cop or you have been in a lot of accidents only reason someone would not call is because afraid what might happen. A car was totaled and other had a lot of damage.
No… any accident over $500 needs to be reported to the police. Ethics 101 she Knew this should have been reported and knowing didn’t. She swore in as an office to up hold all laws including involving herself. People want to blame the victim for not calling police when in reality either party could have called. Barr, being an officer should have called it in herself and dealt with the consequences. Why wouldn’t an officer involved in an accident call it in??? Her actions speak volumes incriminating herself. Her lack of integrity needs to be investigated.
Your right either one of the man and women couple could of called, but neither one did and one even gave her a ride. What kind of logic is that???!!!!
321.266. Subsection 2 You do not have to report it to the police, if you do not call the police you have have it to report to the DOT. And it is now $1500 not $500.
Wasnt a big deal till they found out she was a cop. They should have just called.
This is not hard to figure out. The police department needs to suspend her pending a full investigation and they need to turn it over to the DCI. Everyone needs to be interviewed and the appropriate actions if any needs to be taken. If they don’t do the right thing, the department loses credibility. Do the right thing chief!
Not only DCI, but DEA, FBI, USDA, and League of Women Voters.
He is doing the right thing and ignoring comments like yours. You have tried and convicted her with no evidence at all. The chief is a lot smarter than you and knows there is no way to prove or disprove this now. If she wasn’t a cop you wouldn’t care at all.
Why wasn’t this a problem when it happened? I’m sure if she was drunk they would have called. Pretty tough to prove she was intoxicated a day later. The ONLY reason this is even a story is she is a police officer. It sounds like people think Barr should have called the police to prove she wasn’t drunk.
Ditto
So this was a party… for cops… that had booze? Barr left the party… that was full of cops… and none of them questioned or seen her get behind the wheel? If they can’t police themselves how should we trust them or count on them to police us?
This incident shows a definite bias against law enforcement. Ordinary citizens have empathy for a single mother who makes a mistake, but not if she’s a LEO. We should expect the same behavior from everyone and treat everyone the same. If the victims here were willing to let a single mother off easy, that unequal treatment is just as wrong as any of Officer Barr’s alleged behavior. Everyone should be treated the same whether they are civilians or LEOs. We all have responsibilities to do the right thing whether we are regular citizens or law enforcement. If they were upset about the accident, the police should have been called on a single mother, not just when they found out she was a cop. The singl mother was just as guilty.
The moment Larson and Brosdahl decided not to call the police, it makes their story not credible. Besides what were these two doing being up so late, looks suspicious to me.
Yes, lets try and switch our focus on the couple that was home inside with their car parked legally outside from the off duty officer who admits that she had a few at a party and was out hitting a parked car while driving at 1:45 A.M. Sounds suspicious to me.
Ralph – Larson did say the crash was at 1:45, yet she was sleeping until 2:10, how did she know crash was at 1:45 if she was sleeping. Do the math dude!
In the story it says that their neighbors heard it happen at that time. Why didn’t they hear it, maybe they were sleeping?
Oh, also in the story it says Barr didn’t knock on their door until 2:10. Read the story dud!
The article quotes Larson telling NIT the crash was at 1:45, she said it dude! Also the article says others neighbors heard the crash, no mention of someone telling Larson the crash was at 1:45.
The neighbors heard the crash and were awakened. You guys are pathetic. Attacking an innocent person who is completely innocent in this. Put yourself in the situation. You would probably really throw a fit!!!
Who are you claiming is completely innocent?
No one is innocent here until proven. I see the point this person is referring to. There is nothing in the article that shows someone told Larson the time of the crash, even though the neighbors heard it. Both sides need to be looked into.
Now, I think the only one that should be looked into is you. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what time she hit their car, she hit it and admitted to it. The victims, and yes they are the victims, were home when their car was hit. Why would you look into them? Maybe the neighbors should be looked into also for hearing it?
If it truly was to “swerve and miss a deer” why would she not wanted to report it especially as a “law-abiding” Police Officer??
And yet this bimbo is out there on patrol writing other drivers up for DWI. Nice going, Hypocrite PD.
I was expecting more from our new Police Chief !
My definition of totaled….is a car that looks like an accordion.
Its a good thing your not a insurance adjuster. Looks like a lot of structural damage in the wheel area. It doesn’t take much to add up fast’. just a guess but a 2011 ford taurus is valued at what 8000. How did the passenger side get damaged on the taurus that should of been the side to the curb and the rear quarter panel of the person driving on the driver side. Was it on a one way street. To me it would look like she backed into it. For her to not call the police as a officer leads me to think she was drinking. She should be fired. What other logical conclusion could a person make. Shame on our Police Chief. Bookmeyer should ask for some answers. But he is to busy worrying about the pork plant than the safety of Mason City residents.
Lets see swerved to miss a deer but run into a car that makes since that goes completely against human nature. i’m sure she has had extensive training in driving being a police woman. This is a f””‘ing joke. Damn lucky somebody was walking down the street.
Seems like everything was fine until they found out that she’s a cop. Then all of a sudden they needed more money? B.S.!!
If they smelled alcohol on her breath why didn’t they call the police? Now it’s an issue once they heard what her job is? I’m sorry but if you smelled alcohol, and didn’t seem concerned then, why is it an issue now? If no one calls the police, there’s nothing wrong with exchanging information between yourselves. I’m not sure what the issue is here. If the mayor hits your bumper at the grocery store, does he have to say “I’m the mayor”? Now if her insurance isn’t valid, and the victims car is replaced or fixed, and the victim wasn’t worried that she was intoxicated, even after smelling alcohol, why is this an issue??? Get over it, police officers go to parties, BBQs and family functions! Lol. There’s a difference between going to a party, having a drink, and driving drunk. Again, she was not concerned of her sobriety to call the police until a day later. This is trolling, and it’s what keeps this news site from being taken seriously.
You’re a cop or a boot licker the only person trolling is you. You can’t be serious with this load of BS you typed. First, if I were in an accident and I smelled of beer. The cops would have been there in 5 minutes. Please stop!
Sure, if someone would have called the police on you. Most people concerned of some persons sobriety while driving would. This person did not.
Damage to the curb picture. Ummmm there’s grass growing in the damage. Hahahaha this site is ridiculous.
Must be above the law!
If it had been anybody else but a cop , they would of been arrested nd charges would of been filed. Plus if this was a police bonfire , they will do what they can to cover it up. The blue shield gang.
Oh no, every Police Officer at the bonfire knows she was drinking, not just the officer and the couple. This should be enough in itself for the Department to open an investigation. They may find, in a proper investigation, she made a stop somewhere and consumed more alcohol in between leaving the bonfire and totaling the innocent parties vehicle. She may have been dumb enough to stop for more drinks and use her credit card in the process. She was 100% negligent (no other drivers involved) in this and obviously created a hardship for a Mason City citizen. She clearly didn’t call 911 before exiting her vehicle. She had her own blatant motive to elude law enforcement, the violations/citations (Failure to Control, Exceeding the Speed Limit, Reckless Driving, Public Intoxication, DUI, and possibly more) and costs that come with it when she exited her damaged vehicle. She totaled a vehicle and significantly damaged another in a 25 mph zone! She needs to understand…”Service before Self”. This smells like a good old boy cover up…”lift rug, start sweeping”.
Ahhhhh, look at the boot lickers in full force. Of course a cop wouldn’t be drinking and driving, right? They do it every single weekend people! Hypocritical corrupt cops? Say it ain’t so!
Does her being a police officer make a difference. Damn right it does!!! She took an oath of office to “serve and protect”. She used her knowledge as an officer in dealing with accidents like this in her favor. Shoukd the couple have called the police? Bet they do next time. Is Ms Larson In it for the money? Shame on u people. She was lied to and taken advantage of. She deserves a car comparable to what she had at the same payment (if she had a loan). The officer was negligent here and should make it right. The only ones who know for sure if she was drinking is the officer and the couple. Believe me if she was at the scene of one of u hitting a car and u were drinking u would be in jail. And by the way. The car that was struck was LEGALLY parked.
I don’t like the reasoning that she took an oath to “serve and protect” therefore she is violating that oath. When you were married, you took an oath to honor and obey. Do you do that? Do any of you do that all the time, 24/7? How about the parents out there? When you had children, you may not have taken a verbal oath to protect that child, but it is an unwritten oath. Have you always done what is best for your child? Trying to hold a person to an oath and not realizing or caring that sometimes we screw up is pretty self-righteous. And saying that people who take that oath should never screw up is delusional. We are people and there isn’t one of you whipping on this woman who should be casting stones.
My only concern is why the police won’t investigate. After that one LEO ran into a parked car and no charges were filed, one would think the police might want to at least look into this to avoid the backlash that they now have.
At least she should have gotten “Failure to control”. That is what any ordinary citizen would have gotten.
Does it matter if she is a police officer? It’s I guess a matter of opinion which everyone has a right to. I feel that it does matter. She is paid by our taxes to protect and serve. She had 20 minutes according to the story to call the police. She was the only one out there. What if she hadn’t found the owner of the car? What would have been her decision? It’s only a car I get it. But that person whose car was destroyed was sleeping. I believe she is entitied to a comparable car with same payments if she had a loan and money for a down payment. Why should she be financially strapped because of the officers decision to drive. What she drunk? I guess only 3 people really know. The officer and the couple. Should they have called the police? Bet they do next time. But the officer was lucky to meet a nice person who really felt bad. I know how I would feel if I found out 3 hours later she was an officer. I would have been upset. Taken advantage of.She has the knowledge of how to handle accidents. I feel like she played the situation to protect herself and her job. She should be reprimanded. She arrests people for the exact same thing she did. Do U think she would feel bad and not arrest u?
They should have called the police at the time of the incident. It doesn’t matter single parent or not, 9 times out of 10 if it’s 1:45am and someone totals a parked car, they were drinking. Now go back to bed!!!!!
No different then when klemas hit that parked car and wasn’t fined. The Mason city police dept is so corrupt. It’s a shame that these people have badges.
What are those cars doing parked in the Bike Lane? Shame on them.
Well, how can you investigate an accident half a day later? I’m not saying she was or was not intoxicated, but it is a bit odd that even though everyone was made right, it wasn’t until her job played a factor. Everything is still right, but I’m getting the impression they are looking for something greater paid out. What should her supervisor do? She didn’t leave the scene of an accident, has insurance, and spent over half an hour with these people exchanging info. Should she be fired because she did all the right things in an accident just because she didn’t say she was an officer? It makes no difference to me what happens to her, just think it’s a case of what if. If anyone else have called for an investigation that can no longer be preformed, they would be screaming that the police are crooked and out to get them. Sometimes I feel like if I drink the MC water, I’m going to end up just like all these ridiculous idiots that you can never please. Bet her boss is still going to talk to her, and I bet it will be in her file as a possible poor decision not involving an on duty officer.
Thank god she didn’t kill anyone. She’s in the bar alot drinking on her days off… only time before something worse happens. These are the people keeping us safe.
The only way you could possibly know that is if you are in the same bar a lot and see her. That makes your statement a little questionable.
Kinda surprised she didn’t use this as an opportunity to wave her badge around and make use of her “authority”. But I guess when one of mcpd finest is on the wrong side of the issue it may not be such a great idea.
TRUMP 2016 !
Lift rug, start sweeping.
This happens all the time in this city. The only difference is she is a police officer and contacted the owners of the other cars as the law requires. No big deal.
sorry, but if it was anybody but a cop, they would have been tracked down, given a ticket for leaving the scene of a accident, and the cops would have DONE ANYTHING to give the driver a OWI. Big dollars lost here. If it would have only been a civilian, the $$$$ that could have been made!
Except she didn’t leave the scene, she stayed and dealt with an exchange of information in the middle of the night, which is 100% legal. Nice try there.
when I lived in Mason City I was riding my bicycle on a sidewalk a car pulled out in front of me and never yielded before a crosswalk this was before any bike lanes were created in mason city streets. I hit the car with my bike did a flip and my ass landed in the windshield of the lady’s car.
According to MCPD I was in the wrong excepted that but instead I had to appear in front of the judge for a consequence. once I appeared in front of the judge his response was are you kidding me…. he was disappointed that the MCPD was even wasting his time. he stated that the community has druggies, Rappers, thief’s and murder’s and that MCPD is really bringing this forward.
The fine cost me $302.00 This sidewalk and alley was is on the right hand side of the new Park Inn Hotel. If you are a driver one cannot see since there is a 40 foot limo parked in front blocking a view on the right.
I went to a city meeting & asked about a sign being put up or a yield the city response was that it would cause interfering with the Park Inn Hotel décor. So all of you North Iowan’s that say Ohhhh come Super Mason City and come shopping get real its a shit hole we have no Downtown… more mall walkers than shoppers
The city told me that as a citizen of the community its up to me to know the laws and bi-laws of the community and my response was this is there any law that exsits that the typical resident of a community wouldn’t know about they said yes its $419.00 fine for jaywalking in the city limits of Mason City
its so typical that nothing is coming of this does our community really need 2-3 cop cars at the scene every time one car is pulled over. if so everyone’s fuss about crime will come if the prestige farm would go through take a look around than the crime is already here… and the POLICE are in on it. Where’s Jody anyways???..
I have so many questions. Besides rappers in Mason…..
If the judge heard your case, and thought your ticket was ridiculous, then one would assume you’d be found not guilty. Why are you paying a $300 fine if the judge sided with you?
You got what you deserved. It is “ILLEGAL” to ride a bike on the sidewalk. NOTE: It is called a side WALK for a reason. Don’t come back. We have enough law breakers without you.
Thats not fully true its only illegal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalks from Commerical Street to Monroe the city states that this is a business district. all other sidewalks are legal to ride on
And, that is where Anonymous was. Downtown by the Park Inn
whats the problem here? She totaled two less cars than the last cop did? Things are getting better