NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A Metro Nashville Police Department sergeant has been arrested on two felony aggravated assault warrants related to his driving into an I-40 construction zone on March 7, police said Wednesday.
Sgt. Donald Barnes, 53, a 26-year police veteran, was off-duty driving his personal SUV on I-40 East near the Donelson Pike exit at 7:30 p.m. on March 7 when he is accused of traveling into a closed area despite traffic cones and barrels.
The construction workers reported waving their arms to get the driver’s attention and direct him back to the open lanes of interstate. Barnes is accused of driving forward before stopping with construction workers in front of him. Police said Barnes and one of the workers engaged in a verbal argument before Barnes reportedly lunged his vehicle forward twice, making contact with one of the workers both times.
The workers said Barnes identified himself as a Metro police officer and was seen by the workers holding a pistol across his stomach pointed at the driver’s door where one of the workers stood on the outside. The workers ultimately moved away from the SUV, and Barnes allegedly drove through the remainder of the construction zone and onto Donelson Pike.
The workers recorded the license plate, which was reported to the police department.
Barnes was decommissioned by the police department on March 8 when the investigation started. A decommissioned officer has all police authority removed.
Police said Barnes had been assigned to West Precinct patrol.
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