Charles E. Barnes, Sr.

Miller County Sheriff's Office — Texarkana, AR

Felonious

End of Watch March 31, 1984

Age 46

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 128 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Charles Barnes was shot and killed execution-style after stopping to investigate a vehicle parked on the side of Holly Springs Road in Miller County off Highway 196. As he talked to the three occupants one of them stated he had to use the bathroom. Deputy Barnes told the man to step to the edge of the woods so he remained in sight. The other two suspects then distracted Deputy Barnes as the third one went back to the car and retrieved a rifle. The three overpowered Deputy Barnes put him on his knees and then shot him. The suspects then stole his patrol car. He was found by another deputy who responded to the scene after Deputy Barnes failed to answer radio calls. One of the suspects, who had been released from prison three weeks earlier, was shot and killed in a shootout with other law enforcement officers the following day in Texas. Two youths were arrested. One youth, age 17, was found guilty of Capital Murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. That sentence was overturned a year later. The other youth was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years. Deputy Barnes had served with the Miller County Sheriff's Office for two years and as a reserve deputy for eight years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, mother, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-1E27E0BB
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrol Deputy Barnes gave the Miller County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Texarkana community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Deputy Barnes.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Miller County Sheriff's Office

Location Texarkana, AR

Platform Identity mcso.miller.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 31, 1984

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Offender suspicious vehicle

Patrol Deputy Charles E. Barnes, Sr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Miller County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 81.8% of this agency's fallen.

Miller County Sheriff's Office

of 11 officers

81.8% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious