Officer charged after alleged home invasion

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — An Atlanta police officer is expected in court Wednesday morning after he was arrested for a home invasion in Henry County.

Investigators told Channel 2’s Nefertiti Jaquez that Atlanta Police Department Officer Phillip Barresi threatened his former fiancee and her family.

Months after hitting the streets, Barresi is accused of kicking down the door of a home along Draba Lane in Locust Grove, and forcing his way inside. All the while, he was in uniform.

Jaquez went to Barresi’s home in Jonesboro Tuesday after he bonded out of jail, but no one answered

"Cops like him give good cops a bad name," neighbor Renee Carter told Jaquez.

Carter lives two doors down from Barresi, and said she was stunned to learn about what he is accused of.

“Just the fact that you would put on your uniform then go to someone's home and do that. It's like saying, ‘I'm a cop. I can do whatever I want,’” Carter said.

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Locust Grove police said on Nov. 28, the officer kicked down the front door of the home where his former fiancee was staying with her sister and her parents.

Once inside, the victim and her family told police that Barresi put his hand on his service weapon. The family called 911 and Barresi allegedly took off.

A report shows Barresi told detectives he "accidently kicked the door open." He told them he "regretted his actions" but was "extremely upset" because his ex had broken into his home first.

When asked if he had filed a police report, he said he "was trying to keep the police out of the situation."

But some neighbors say something doesn’t add up.

"You don't accidently kick a door with force. You don't accidently kick a door open. You wanted to get in," said Carter.

Jaquez contacted Atlanta police and Sgt. Warren Pickard said that Barresi had been relieved of duty and is on paid administrate leave until further notice.

Jaquez also spoke to the former fiancee who denies breaking into the home. She said she had just taken their baby and moved out.

As a matter of full disclosure, we must add that the victim in this story is family member of a Channel 2 Action News reporter.

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