HARTFORD – A Hartford firefighter is on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of an investigation, according to the Hartford Fire Department.
Harry Barrett, of Glastonbury, was arrested on Wednesday for operating under the influence, failure to drive right and possession of drug paraphernalia
Barrett is a firefighter with the Hartford Fire Department, based out of Company 16 on Blue Hills Avenue. He joined the department in May of 2008.
At around 2 p.m on Wednesday, Fairfield Police said Barrett was involved in a car accident. Police said he was driving a gray pickup truck and hit a tree on Somerset Avenue in Fairfield.
Police said when they got to the scene of the accident, Barrett was outside of truck and told police that his foot slipped off the brake pedal.
Police said a female passenger walked away from the scene, so they found her and brought her back.
Barrett was taken to Bridgeport Hospital for his injuries, and police said he had slurred speech and looked intoxicated.
Police said Barrett took an alcohol test and did not complete the test to “standard”.
Police K-9 units were called in and found two syringes near the scene after Barrett told police he threw them out of the truck.
Fairfield Police got a search warrant for Barrett’s medical records and his blood was taken at Bridgeport Hospital. Police said it showed the presence of opioids, cocaine metabolites and benzodiazepine but was negative for alcohol.
Additional blood testing for the woman in the truck was being conducted by the State Police Department lab. There are no charges filed against her at this time, but there could be at a later date.
It is not known if Barrett has had previous disciplinary issues with the department. His bail was set at $5,000.