Barry Arnold has stepped down as chief of the Goshen Rescue Squad following his arrest on charges of embezzling public funds.
Rockbridge County Fire Chief Nathan Ramsey told The News-Gazette on Friday that earlier this week he called Arnold to inform him that a certified letter from the county department of Fire-Rescue & Emergency Management asking him to step down as chief had been mailed. During that conversation, Arnold told Ramsey that he had stepped down earlier this month following his arrest and that his son, Benjamin Arnold, has been serving as the squad’s chief since then. Ramsey offered no further comment at this time.
Barry Arnold was arrested on May 8 and charged with two counts of embezzlement of public funds and conspiracy to embezzle public funds. In a press release following Arnold’s arrest, the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office said that the investigation is ongoing and that additional arrests and charges may be coming, though no additional charges have been filed and no other individuals have been arrested in connection to this investigation at this time.
A preliminary hearing for the charges against Arnold has been scheduled for Sept. 25 in Rockbridge County General District Court.
