The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a former firefighter of the Coffeyville Fire Department for child sex crimes.
At 8:40 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, KBI agents arrested Spencer Barnard, 25, of Baxter Springs, after a traffic stop in Cherokee County. Barnard was arrested for sexual exploitation of a child and aggravated indecent solicitation of a child.
KBI agents and sheriff’s deputies also conducted a search at 1004 Cherokee Ave., in Baxter Springs, related to the case.
Following the arrest, Barnard was booked into the Cherokee County Jail. All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Formal charges have not been filed.
The city of Coffeyville posted on its Facebook page that Barnard’s employment with the fire department was terminated because of his arrest. “The city of Coffeyville was made aware this morning of the arrest of Coffeyville Fire Department employee Spencer Barnard by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. These allegations are deeply troubling and do not reflect the values, integrity, or expectations of the City or its employees. Although Mr. Barnard had previously submitted notice of his intent to resign, the City has terminated his employment effective immediately,” the post read. “We understand the seriousness of the charges and the concern this may cause within our community. The City of Coffeyville remains committed to transparency, accountability, and upholding the highest standards of professionalism and public trust. In response to this incident, we are reviewing internal policies and procedures to ensure safeguards are in place across all departments. Our priority is and will continue to be the safety and trust of the community we serve.”
