Local

Bartow man accused of lying about military service to solicit money

BARTOW, Fla. — A 27-year-old man in Bartow is accused of soliciting funds and misrepresenting military service.

Polk County Sheriff's officials said in a news release that Kyle Christopher Barwan of Lakeland was arrested Wednesday and remains jailed.

Investigators said they received a tip in December from someone who read a blog about Barwan impersonating military officers.

During the investigations, officials learned Barwan has been arrested in Kentucky and Illinois on similar charges.

The arrest report said Barwan befriended a woman online and told her lies about his military service while soliciting money from her "to benefit one of his fellow soldiers who was injured in the war."

Sheriff Grady Judd said lying about being in the military to steal money from someone "is not only egregious, it's against the law."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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