Authorities have identified the man they believe is responsible for a February 2 break-in at Ottumwa’s Cardinal Community School District and at least 15 other school burglaries across Missouri and Iowa.
Curtis Barton, 40, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, was arrested April 29 following a months-long investigation by the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Investigators linked Barton to the Ottumwa crime after noticing patterns across multiple districts.
Searches of two Arkansas residences uncovered evidence connecting Barton, who was already on parole for similar offenses, to the full string of incidents. The investigation remains ongoing.
