Gage Davis Barnes of rural Vergas was charged in Becker County District Court with third-degree burglary, a felony.

A Becker County deputy was dispatched to a residence on Mill Pond Drive on Saturday, Dec. 23 after a report of a burglary that occurred in a detached garage.

A door and deadbolt to the garage was damaged and pried open to gain access, according to court records.

Items in the interior of the garage were strewn about and cabinets and drawers were left open.

A white surgical glove was retrieved as evidence.

Less than a month later, Barnes, 33, was being held in Otter Tail County Jail where he admitted to committing the garage crime in Becker County where he stole a Big Buddy heater, tip ups, a table saw, a ladder, plank and pole saw.

Those items were found at Barnes’ residence outside Vergas, while he had sold other items.

Barnes has prior arrests for burglary including a string of thefts from New York Mills, Perham and East of Pelican Rapids in 2023. 

Barnes was arrested again in late 2023 by Otter Tail County officers and charged with felony level fleeing, gross misdemeanor obstructing legal process, a pair of third degree DWI charges, and driving after revocation.

He was released without bail, under standard conditions on Thursday, Feb. 15 with his next court appearance on the garage burglary charges slated for Monday, March 4 in Becker County District Court.