A reportedly homeless man arrested Wednesday in connection with the burglary of a local restaurant on Tuesday was charged Thursday with additional counts related to the burglary of an area gas station over the weekend.
Otis Markham Barnett, 53, who has been in custody since his arrest around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday on a felony count of commercial burglary, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of theft of property, punishable by up to one year in jail, was charged Thursday with an additional felony count of commercial burglary and additional misdemeanor counts of theft of property and first-degree criminal mischief.
Barnett, who is on parole, appeared via video Friday morning in Garland County District Court and pleaded not guilty to all charges. Judge Meredith Switzer set his bond at $10,000 and he remained in custody as of Friday afternoon. A felony review hearing is set for Oct. 15.
According to the probable cause affidavits, on Tuesday, the owner of Bailey's Dairy Bar, 510 Park Ave., reported a burglary to his business, noting the suspect gained entry through a service window and took about $700 in coins, damaged a video surveillance camera and a strike plate on the door, with damages estimated at $280.
Detective Les Jessup reviewed the surveillance video on Tuesday which showed a partially bald black male wearing a red and white striped Polo shirt entering the business shortly before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. Stills from the video were also posted on social media to get the public's help in locating the suspect.
Jessup recognized the suspect as Barnett from previous arrests and he was taken into custody the next day.
On Sunday, an employee of Shell Gas, 3201 Central Ave., reported a burglary to the business that had occurred earlier that morning. Security video showed a black male entering the business at approximately 12:30 a.m. through a north side window.
The man went behind the cash register and removed 10 cartons of Newport cigarettes and then fled out the same window he had entered. Video showed the partially balding man was wearing a red and white striped Polo shirt.
Barnett had already been arrested for the other burglary and was questioned by detectives and allegedly admitted he was the suspect in the security video from the Shell station.
Local on 08/25/2018