GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Police have charged a Gettysburg man with impersonating a public servant after he allegedly tried to illegally detain three juveniles during a confrontation at a Freedom Township fishing spot.
Jason La Barre, 53, was charged after one of the teens contacted authorities on May 25, according to State Police.
The victim told police he and two other juveniles met La Barre near the Sachs Covered Bridge, which spans Marsh Creek in Freedom Township. One of the juveniles asked La Barre if he had caught anything while fishing, and La Barre accused them of causing a disturbance.
La Barre allegedly pointed to a law enforcement badge on his belt and told the kids he was detaining them for causing a disturbance and trespassing, police claim. He also asked them to present their fishing licenses, but the teens were not fishing and had no equipment with them, police said.
Police determined the teens were not causing a disturbance or breaking any laws. They interviewed La Barre at his home, where they learned he was a security guard and not a law enforcement officer and had no jurisdiction outside his workplace, according to police.