LIHU’E — Kaua‘i police arrested a Utah man twice for violating the state’s 10-day mandatory quarantine which he documented in a series of TikTok videos.
David Barnes, 50 of Bountiful, Utah, arrived at Lihu‘e Airport on Dec. 28 after traveling from the Mainland. There, he was instructed to quarantine at an approved accommodation for 10 days.
According to the Kaua‘i Police Department, he did not have lodgings in place when he arrived and made reservations at the Sheraton Kaua‘i Coconut Beach Resort in Kapa‘a. Officials allowed him to leave the airport after reservations were confirmed.
According to two TikTok videos dated Dec. 27, Barnes had taken a COVID-19 test and gotten a negative result in anticipation for his trip to Kaua‘i.
Barnes proceeded to leave the airport on foot and reportedly walked to Costco Wholesale, where he proceeded to shop. KPD arrested him that same day. According to KPD, he was released on $1,000 bail and required to complete his travel quarantine.
In one TikTok dated Dec. 31, Barnes films a KPD officer driving him to his lodgings for the rest of his quarantine. In the video, Barnes claims he spent two days in a jail cell and one day at Kaua‘i Community Correction Center, where he was placed into solitary confinement before being released.
Barnes then checked in to the Kaua‘i Inn in Niamalu for the remainder of his quarantine, which, at this point would have been a week more.
Barnes’ TikTok account shows 83 videos posted since Dec. 28, many of which he tags the Kaua‘i Police Department. In several TikToks, Barnes verbally attacks KPD and its officers and makes disrespectful references to the island.
In videos posted during his quarantine period, Barnes films himself watching television, having food delivered and compliance checks from the Hawai‘i National Guard.
“I just feel like I’m being singled out a little bit,” Barnes said in a Jan. 3 video to a National Guard member. He thanks them during his daily check-ins.
Barnes, who was told by authorities that he wasn’t allowed out on the lanai, defies this order in one video.
“I am on the lanai, and I am not allowed to be on the lanai,” Barnes said on his TikTok video. “What a drag, I am just quarantining it up. … I am not allowed to leave this place. This place sucks, compared to where I was.”
In another video posted about a week ago, while on a walk away from his lodgings, Barnes said he doesn’t want to be arrested again.
“(The rules are) really f***ing stupid, but, these are the rules, and I do not want to go back to jail,” he said while breaking the rule.
In ensuing videos, Barnes films himself headed to Duke’s Kaua’i, mocking the island’s rules and the 10-day quarantine.
“That bar kicked me out because I told them I was quarantining and I was just getting some exercise, and I was trying to be honest, and they told me to bounce, so I did,” Barnes said in one video. “I just want to have a beer and kickback. (Kaua’i) is tyranny. Kaua’i is a communist party, and I am a Chinese Spy on TikTok.”
KPD arrested Barnes for a second time on Jan. 5 for three more counts of violating the Governor and Mayor’s Emergency Rules, and one count of simple trespass.
Barnes is being held at the Kaua‘i Community Correction Center on $11,000 bail.
KPD has made 192 arrests to-date for violations of the quarantine emergency rules. All individuals arrested are subject to up to one year in jail, and up to $5,000 in fines.
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Jason Blasco, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
Sabrina Bodon, government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
Surely this man is a bit deranged. He seems to be missing more than a few nuts and bolts. However this propaganda is written to incite hatred. It doesn’t matter what Barnes thinks of Kauai or what rude things he’s said. KPD and the national guard should be upholding the freedoms we have not performing sting operations on a man who had to walk to his hotel.
Makoa, Typical, only follow the law if you think the rules fit you and if they dont just look the other way.
No matter what your political beliefs, I think we can all agree that locking him up is AWESOME!! Guy all mad because we have laws! He hasn’t learned a lesson after being locked up once before? Ok guy. Put him directly on a plane and adios!
Sounds like an idiot just trying to get social media-famous. Somebody should tell him he’s a boomer, the internet’s not interested.
This guy just don’t get it! What an A**H888! I seen the video and it looked like KPD was actually don’t this jerk a favor driving him from KCCC to his hotel. KCCC was just going to let him walk, they didn’t even care that it was the Governor of the State of Hawaii that approved the restriction….Doe’s the KCCC employees work for the State of Hawaii? Does not seem like it!!
Talk about karma, this guy is so focused on his social media presence that he fails to see the stupidity in documenting and sharing the crime he’s committing with the world. Thanks David, I feel smart now.
Trump supporter I’m sure
He inhaled to much North SLC fumes on the way to SLC Airport.