Arrest in Burglary from 2019

The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce an arrest in a residential Burglary that occurred on September 19, 2019 in the Merrimac, Lake Wisconsin area.

On that date, an unlocked vehicle in the driveway at a residence was entered and a garage door opener in the vehicle was used to gain entry to the garage and subsequently the residence where items were stolen while the residents slept. One item taken from the home was a purse, after which credit cards from the purse were used at numerous locations in the Madison area not long after.

Evidence collected at the scene was sent to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab for analysis. The Sauk County Sheriff’s office was notified that a DNA profile had been obtained and a tentative match to a male was made.

Subsequent elimination samples and direct comparisons were made which identified the suspect in the Burglary as Noel I Barnes Jr., now 21 years old, with a Madison, WI address.

An interview with Barnes was conducted at the Dane County Jail where he is being held on similar charges, during which Barnes admitted to being involved in that crime, as well as others in the area.

Barnes was charges with Burglary and is due in court on October 26^th, 2022.

The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind our citizens and visitors to keep all residential and vehicle doors locked when unattended and be aware of their surroundings and to contact Law Enforcement right away if they observe suspicious activity. Information can also be relayed to Sauk County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-TIP-SAUK. Callers can remain anonymous and cash rewards may be available.