News Summary
Curtis Lee Barton, a 40-year-old man from Arkansas, was arrested on suspicions of breaking into 16 schools across Missouri and Iowa. Law enforcement linked him to the crimes largely through surveillance footage and prior burglary records. Investigators noted that Barton targeted rural schools, presumably selecting them to minimize detection. Following a focused investigation, authorities executed his arrest, uncovering evidence that may lead to federal charges. The investigation remains ongoing as connections to additional thefts are explored.
Little Rock, Arkansas – A 40-year-old man from Arkansas, Curtis Lee Barton, has been arrested on suspicion of a series of school burglaries across Missouri and Iowa. Law enforcement officials report that Barton is suspected of breaking into 14 schools in Missouri and 2 schools in Iowa recently, focusing on educational institutions in rural areas to avoid detection.
The burglaries occurred primarily in Bates and Cass Counties, located north of Kansas City, with investigators noting that Barton targeted these rural schools in hopes of finding cash and escaping law enforcement before they arrived on the scene. In Ballard, Missouri, the local K-12 school faced an unexpected crime, underlined by signs urging the community to share the road with horse and buggies, highlighting the area’s otherwise tranquil nature.
Investigation teams were able to connect Barton with the crime spree following a series of surveillance videos captured on March 16, where a masked individual was seen entering Ballard High School and stealing cash from several locations. The perpetrator also attempted to disable the school’s lighting and security systems from the server room, resulting in extensive damage worth thousands of dollars as computer components were taken.
Community member reactions to these burglaries have included disbelief, with some suggesting that the nature of the crimes could initially be mistaken for an inside job due to the remoteness of the schools involved. Authorities reported that Barton had a prior history with similar burglaries, having been previously on parole for offenses committed in central Missouri between 2017 and 2018.
After a focused investigation into Barton’s activities, authorities in Wapello County, Iowa, determined that he was linked to a pattern of thefts, including a significant incident in February where $4,000 was stolen from a school in the area. Sheriff Don Phillips mentioned that Barton strategically chose rural locations where houses were sparse, which facilitated his attempts to avoid being caught.
Recent data compiled by investigators indicated that all the burglaries occurred within a three-month span, with one of the latest incidents taking place at Sherwood-Cass R-VIII on April 12. Following these findings, law enforcement agencies from various jurisdictions coordinated an operation that led to Barton’s arrest at his residence in Arkansas on April 29.
Digital evidence seized during the investigation has connected Barton to the thefts at Ballard School, prompting plans for federal charges to be filed against him. As of now, Barton is being held in a detention facility in Little Rock, under a cash-only bond set at $100,000. Extradition proceedings have been authorized to commence on May 1.
Authorities are further exploring potential ties between Barton and additional burglaries, including those related to small businesses in the region, to determine if he is connected to a broader pattern of thefts. The investigation remains active as officials work to piece together the full extent of Barton’s criminal activities.
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Additional Resources
- Fox 4 KC
- Wikipedia: Burglary
- KCTV5
- Google Search: School Bureau
- KOMU
- Google Scholar: Education Theft
- KRCG TV
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Theft
- KRCG TV: Arrest Suspect
- Google News: School Burglaries
