Bad Driver in Greenfield Linked to St. Francis Home Burglary

GREENFIELD, WI — A Cudahy man has been charged with more than a simple traffic violation after Greenfield police officers found stolen jewelry in his pants - and even more stolen items in the car.

On Nov. 2, a Greenfield police officer was on duty in the area of the 4700 block of S. 27th St. when he noticed a blue Chrysler PT Cruiser make an illegal turn, and then drive into the nearby BP gas station and park.

Police say the driver of the Cruiser, later identified as Roger Barber, parked the car and exited it as if not to notice the squad car, the uniformed officer and the activated red & blue lights on top of the marked squad car.

According to his criminal complaint, as Barber began to walk away from his parked car, the officer repeatedly ordered him to return to his car and sit in the driver’s seat.

He returned to the driver’s seat of the PT Cruiser, only to start the car and flee the officer around the building.

Police say in his exuberance to elude police, Barber drove the PT Cruiser up onto the curb on the backside of the building and car became stranded. He was then arrested shortly afterward.

Upon a search, officers found various pieces of female jewelry. Also located inside the PT Cruiser were additional pieces of jewelry, a 72 piece set of silver, fine-dining flatware inside a felt-lined wooden storage box and a metal bowl, his criminal complaint stated.

In total, officers recovered 39 pieces of assorted jewelry, such as necklaces, bracelets and rings, police reported.

As Greenfield police were processing Barber's arrest for obstructing an officer and fleeing, Greenfield police were made aware of the reported burglary in the nearby suburb of St. Francis, his criminal complaint stated.

According to the complaint, police determined that Barber was the likely culprit that burglarized a home on the 3400 block of E. Denton Ave. in St. Francis after determining that he was in possession of the home owner's missing property (both in his pants and in his car).

The shoe tread of the shoes worn by Barber at the time of his arrest by Greenfield police matched the shoe print left on the outside of the garage service door that was kicked in, his complaint states.

Barber has been charged with felony Burglary, and two counts of Obstructing an Officer.

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