Florida Stolen Valor Suspect Arrested In Ayer: Police

AYER, MA — A Florida man charged multiple times with impersonating a military officer was recently arrested again in Ayer, police said. Kyle Barwan, 27, had a warrant out of Florida related to his arrest earlier this year on a "stolen valor" charge. Ayer police said they encountered Barwan Friday after receiving a report from an individual residing with the suspect.

"The resident thought that the person's story wasn't 'adding up' and did an online check," Ayer police said in a statement. The individual then learned Barwan had been charged impersonating a military officer, police said. Officers arrested Barwan and he was held without bail as authorities arrange his transfer back to Florida. (Sign up for free daily newsletters and breaking news alerts from Massachusetts Patch sites.)

"Luckily he was taken into custody before he began working his scam in Ayer," police said in a statement.

In January, Barwan was arrested in Florida and charged with impersonating a military officer. Police said Barwan met a woman on the dating service Plenty of Fish and lied about being a special forces officer with the U.S. Army. Police said he used the story to steal money from the victim.

“Lying about being in the military to steal money from someone is not only egregious, it’s against the law,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said following Barwan’s arrest in Florida. “It’s also a slap in the face to all the fine men and women across the nation who have served in our country’s military with honor.”

Police said Barwan has also been arrested on similar charges in Illinois and Kentucky.

Related:

Florida Man Accused Of Stealing Valor A ‘Disgrace,’ Sheriff Says

Photo: Kyle Barwan's mugshot. (Credit: Polk County Sheriff's Office-Florida)