Victim said she felt intimidated by officer, felt she had to have sex with him

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A 16-year-old girl told investigators she felt like she had to have sex with a South Bend Police officer because he was a cop, according to court records.

South Bend Police officer Timothy Barber, 36, has been charged with two counts of child seduction, two counts of official misconduct, public indecency and public nudity.

In early October, the victim's parents discovered their 16-year-old daughter had sex with a South Bend Police officer twice, in August and September of 2021, reports said.

The parents contacted police.

The following day the victim was interviewed at the CASIE center.

She told police she met Barber while she was working in South Bend in July 2021. He went into her place of business while in uniform and asked for her phone number, reports said.

The two communicated through messages and in person.

In August 2021, Barber picked her up from work in his patrol vehicle, drove to a secluded location and the two had sex in his vehicle while wearing his police uniform, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Later in August, Barber went through the drive through of the victim's work in his patrol vehicle and full uniform. Barber's genitals were exposed, the victim told police.

The victim said she was not expecting to see his genitals and that she felt awkward in that situation, report said.

Also later in August, Barber went through the drive through in his police vehicle while in uniform and brought the victim candy, report said. When she attempted to retrieve the candy, Barber grabbed her hand and placed it on his exposed genitals, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The victim told investigators she was not expecting to touch his genitals and she was shocked and felt awkward, reports said.

In September 2021, Barber picked the victim up from her work in his patrol vehicle while in full police uniform and the two had sex in his patrol vehicle, reports said.

The victim told investigators she and Barber discussed the fact she was 16-years-old. He told her he looked it up "in the books" and there was nothing wrong with him having sex with a 16-year-old, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Investigators obtained the GPS coordinates from Barber's patrol vehicle. They showed on August 6, his patrol vehicle stopped at a secluded location in South Bend for a period of time. It then stopped at the victim's family member's residence, according to the probable cause affidavit.

On September 2, the GPS showed Barber's car was in a secluded area of Mishawaka, then went to the victim's residence, reports said.

Investigators say the GPS data corresponds with the times and dates the victim said she had sex with Barber.

The victim said she did not know what to do. She felt like Barber was "obsessed" with her because he constantly went to her workplace. She said she felt like she had to have sex with Barber and was intimidated because he was a cop, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Barber was arrested on Tuesday. Barber was arraigned Wednesday and bond was set at $10,000.

At the Board of Public Safety meeting Wednesday morning, Barber was placed on unpaid leave from the South Bend Police Department.

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