Brandy Brian Barnes

      Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 37 year old BRANDY BRIAN BARNES, last known address of Valley Springs, Monday morning, January 15th, after responding to a report of an open garage door at 943 Buford Road.

     Corporal Doug Meurer responded to the residence, which was supposed to be vacant and a where a previous burglary had been reported on January 12, 2018.  Upon his arrival, he observed a single set of footprints coming from the ditch to the south of the residence, and the garage door was up slightly, being held up by a 5 gallon bucket.  Corporal Meurer heard movement in the garage and noticed the door on the residence to be open as well.  He ordered whoever was inside to come out and notified Sheriff’s dispatch to send back-up units.  While waiting for back-up units, Corporal Meurer heard a loud commotion inside the house as if someone was trying to kick open a door.  He went to the back side of the residence and observed a man wearing camouflage pants running from the residence to the North.  The man went over a barbed wire fence and ran along the side of an RV that was parked at the residence to the North of 943 Buford Rd.  Corporal Meurer pursued the man on foot.  He saw the man attempting to hide underneath the RV.  Corporal Meurer and Sergeant Brian Davis were then able to take the man into custody.  He was identified as BRANDY BRIAN BARNES. 

     During a search of the suspect, two sets of pistol grips were found, as well as a pocket watch, a wrist watch, a zippo lighter, and a case containing several pair of cuff links. BARNES was transported to the Detention Center, while Deputies returned to the residence.  By the open door, they found a large pile of ammunition, ammunition cans, fishing poles, tackle boxes, canned goods, and other items.  The residence had been ransacked inside.  In the kitchen, Deputies found a backpack containing a laptop computer, ammunition, a hammer, a pry bar, and a loaded Smith and Wesson pistol.

     BRANDY BRIAN BARNES was booked into the Detention Center on charges of:

Residential Burglary – Felony
Theft of Property – Felony
Theft of Property – Misdemeanor
Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons (convicted felon) – Felony
Fleeing – Misdemeanor

     He currently has a bond of $35,000 and will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on January 18th. BARNES has been booked into the Baxter County Detention Center a total of 8 times since 2011.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff