Gettysburg man charged with impersonation of official

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Police have charged a Gettysburg man with misdemeanor assault after he allegedly attempted to unlawfully restrain three juveniles during an altercation at a Freedom Township fishing spot.

Jason La Barre, 53, was charged after one of the teens contacted authorities on May 25, state police said.

The victim told police he and two other juveniles encountered 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 disturbing the peace.

La Barre allegedly pointed to a police badge on his belt and told the children he was arresting them for disturbing the peace and trespassing, police allege. He also asked them to show their fishing licenses, but the teens were not fishing and did not have any equipment, police said.

Police concluded that the youths were not causing a disturbance or breaking any laws. They questioned La Barre at his home and learned that he was a security guard, not a police officer, and had no jurisdiction outside of his workplace, police said.

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