BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — It's a story 23ABC's I-Team has been following for six months, the night an off-duty Bakersfield Police Department officer was found asleep in a theater at Studio Movie Grill with a firearm in his lap. The officer, later identified as Douglas Barrier, was arrested for public intoxication.
Until Thursday, the surveillance video of the incident was never released.
The video is from the night of December 19, 2019. Surveillance video shows Barrier arrive at the movie theater alone, buy a ticket, and check in at the hostess desk to get a wristband which allows him to order alcohol.
Video shows Barrier take a seat at the counter and a bartender serves him a beer. He sits there for about 10 minutes before moving to a table. Approximately 30 minutes after his arrival, Barrier heads into the theater where Frozen II was playing.
Court documents state the movie ended just after 11p.m. and theater attendants went in to make sure everyone left.
The attendant told officers she saw Barrier asleep and tried waking him up, according to court documents. That's when she told police she noticed the gun between Barrier's legs.
Police were called and the manager evacuated more than 100 guests who were in the premiere screening of Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker.
According to court documents, responding officers were able to safely remove the gun and wake up Barrier.
One of the officers who spoke to Barrier noted in a police report that Barrier "appeared disheveled in appearance" and added that Barrier's jeans were "unzipped" and he could "smell the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and person."
Documents also revealed Barrier only ordered one beer at the bar and it was the only drink he was served while at Studio Movie Grill.
Once officers had the situation under control, moviegoers were allowed back into the theater and Barrier was arrested for public intoxication.
Surveillance video released to 23ABC also shows Barrier being booked into the Kern County Jail.
On June 12, 2020, Barrier pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of drunk and disorderly conduct.
According to court officials, Barrier was referred to Pacific Educational Services to be monitored for completion of a deferred entry of judgment program.
State law says that if a person enters a deferred entry of judgment program and completes the program, they could have their criminal charges dismissed.
He's scheduled to be sentenced on July 2, 2020.
23ABC reached out to the Bakersfield Police Department for comment on the case, they said the administrative investigation is still ongoing and Barrier remains on paid administrative leave.
23ABC also requested body camera footage from the incident, but we were told by the department it was not releasable because the incident does not qualify as a critical incident under specific government codes.
