Personal Purchases On Squad Credit Card Alleged
Goshen Rescue Squad’s chief has been charged with embezzlement as part of an ongoing investigation into the squad’s finances.
Barry Arnold, 55, was released on his own recognizance Friday after being arrested and charged with two counts of embezzlement of public funds and two counts of conspiracy to commit embezzlement of public funds.
According to a press release from the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began in the fall of 2024 after the sheriff’s office received a complaint stemming from issues raised during the squad’s 2023 annual fiscal year audit and included “allegations of misuse of departmental vehicles and questionable spending of organization funds.”
The investigation, which included both the 2023 and 2024 audits, found multiple expenses that “appeared to fall outside of the normal scope of the organization’s daily operations, including purchases determined to be personal in nature.”
The two transactions referenced in the warrants under which Arnold was arrested occurred on March 24, 2023, and April 5, 2023, according to the criminal complaint filed in Rockbridge County General District Court.
The transactions in question consisted of purchases made on the squad’s credit card and a payment of the balance on the card with a check from the Goshen Rescue Squad signed by Lisa Arnold, Barry Arnold’s mother and the squad’s treasurer.
As of Tuesday, no charges have been filed against Lisa Arnold or any other individuals in connection to this investigation, though the sheriff’s office said in the press release that the investigation is ongoing and that “additional charges and arrests may be forthcoming.”
No information has been released regarding the nature of the alleged personal purchases, or of the alleged value of said purchases.
Rockbridge County Fire Chief Nathan Ramsey told The News-Gazette this week that since the spending irregularities were discovered and reported to the sheriff’s office to begin the investigation, the county has ceased providing its annual contribution of funding to the Goshen Rescue Squad. However, the organization has submitted expense reports to the county of what needs to be paid and the county “only pay[s] what is necessary.” That practice is still ongoing.
He also noted that the investigation has not impacted the squad’s ability to respond to calls in Goshen and the surrounding areas.
Between April 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026, the Goshen Rescue Squad received 228 calls and responded to all but 18. In most of those cases, Ramsey noted, the failure to respond was due to the squad being on another call. Among the 210 calls Goshen did respond to in that time frame, 15 calls had delayed responses, meaning the squad took more than 10 minutes to respond. Ramsey said the delayed responses were also usually attributable to the squad being on another call.
“That’s our top priority, along with managing the funding and running the organization,” he said. “Our top focus is to ensure that emergency medical services, and all medical services, are provided to the residents [in Goshen] and in the county as well.”
Ramsey said that he had spoken to the state Emergency Services Board as was told that it would not take any action regarding Arnold’s EMS license unless he is convicted.
As of Tuesday morning, Ramsey said that he had not been informed of any staffing changes at the Goshen Rescue Squad.
Arnold did not respond to a request for comment.
Both Ramsey and Rockbridge County Sheriff Tony McFaddin, in commenting on this matter, emphasized that the charges and investigation are focused on specific individuals and their actions, and do not reflect upon or take away from the volunteer first responders and agencies throughout the county that provide emergency services to residents.
“It is important to recognize the countless volunteer first responders who give their time, energy, and personal sacrifice to serve their communities with integrity and dedication,” said McFaddin.
The Rockbridge County Emergency Services Board will meet next week to discuss how to proceed in light of these developments.
