Former area police officer charged with DUI in Altoona crash
Barr, who held posts in Altoona, Tyrone, faces charges in crash
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A Johnstown police officer who previously worked in the Altoona and Tyrone departments was charged with driving under the influence after he crashed his vehicle into a parked car on Burgoon Road in the Knickerbocker neighborhood early Aug. 31.
Jeffrey T. Barr, 24, of Altoona, had red, glassy eyes, was swaying on his feet and had an odor of alcoholic beverages coming from him when police arrived at the scene of the crash after someone made a 911 call, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Lab results from blood drawn at a local hospital showed that Barr had a blood alcohol level of 0.205%, which is 2.5 times the 0.08% legal limit in Pennsylvania, according to the affidavit.
Barr's vehicle had swerved and hit one parked car, shoving it into a second car, according to the affidavit.
After the crash, but before police arrived, Barr repeatedly turned his vehicle on and off, according to a couple who had come out of their house, the affidavit stated.
The woman yelled at Barr to turn the vehicle off and remain at the scene, the affidavit stated.
Police started field testing for alcohol, but Barr stopped that before it was complete, according to the affidavit.
Barr was hired as an Altoona officer on June 12, 2023, according to city Police Chief Derek Swope.
He "resigned abruptly" in July 2024 during an internal affairs investigation into off-duty conduct, Swope said.
Barr was hired as a part-time officer in Tyrone on Aug. 23, 2024, and was promoted to full time in November 2025, according to an online source. He resigned from the Tyrone department on March 10, with his last day coming three days later, according to Mirror records.
He was hired in Johnstown in March, according to an online copy of Johnstown City Council minutes.
The Mirror asked a Johnstown Police Department representative earlier this week to deliver a message for Barr to call, but didn't hear back.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.