Hampden District Attorney Mark Mastroianni confirmed the arrest and said it was made in West Springfield "at the conclusion of a drug investigation."
Paul BarkyoumbWEST SPRINGFIELD – Former Holyoke Police officer Paul C. Barkyoumb, who resigned after admitting to harrassing an ex-girlfried, was arrested around 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni confirmed the arrest and said it was in West Springfield. He did not release details immediately including the charges.
“It was made at the conclusion of a drug investigation,” he said. Barkyoumb will be arraigned on Monday in Springfield District Court.
The arrest was made by the Hampden County Task Force that includes local and state police. As a narcotics officer in Holyoke, Barkyoumb had worked with the Task Force in the past.
A 17-year member of the Holyoke Police Department, Barkyoumb resigned in September 2010 after admitting guilt to harassing a former girlfriend by sending text messages and through telephone calls.
One text message read “Y R U afraid? Psycho, dike (sic)... I will find a way to get you back.”
In addition to resigning his police position, Barkyoumb was sentenced to two years probation. He was also required to stay away from his ex-girlfriend and cannot possess firearms, a license to carry or a firearms identification card for two years.
That was not the first time Barkyoumb had been in trouble. In February 2009, a Hampden Superior Court judge refused to allow evidence in a drug case investigated by Barkyoumb, ruling that the officer had “demonstrated an unhesitating willingness to offer false testimony.”
The Republican will update as more information becomes available.
