Suspect in burglary arraigned

BEMIDJI – A man police say took part in a burglary that netted over a dozen firearms was arrested after allegedly committing another burglary on Thursday.

Dustin Reginald Barrett, 20, of Redby was arrested just before midnight outside a home northeast of Puposky Lake. Also taken into custody for the burglary were Alan James Lussier, 25 and Bernard Gareth King, 32.

Barrett was arraigned in Beltrami District Court Friday on one count of felony second degree burglary. He is being held at the Beltrami County Jail on that charge, and an outstanding warrant for felony first degree burglary stemming from the 2010 theft of firearms from Blue Water Bait and Sports, 136 Peaceful Meadow Lane.

Deputies with the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home, located eight miles north of County Highway 2 on County Highway 89, late Thursday on a report of a suspicious vehicle.

According to the criminal complaint filed Friday, Barrett was found in the vehicle with King and Lussier. Deputies found multiple sets of tracks leading to and from the home, a back door that appeared to be kicked in and gasoline and oil spilled inside the residence.

In the vehicle with the men were two chainsaws. Deputies spoke with the out-of-town residents of the home, who confirmed they owned two chainsaws matching the description of those found in the vehicle.

Barrett is wanted in connection with the July, 2010 burglary to Blue Water Water Bait and Sports that resulted in the theft of between 15 and 20 rifles and shotguns.

DNA evidence collected following the crime confirmed Barrett’s presence at the store, according to the criminal complaint filed for that charge by the Beltrami County Attorney’s Office.

Another man, Lee Sean Fier, 21, of Bemidji pleaded guilty on Feb. 5 for his role in the burglary.

Only one of the stolen weapons, which included a .223 caliber rifle and two 50-gauge shotguns, has been recovered.

Fier testified in open court that he and Barrett took the firearms to Red Lake where they “gave or sold the weapons to others,” according to court documents.

The complaint filed Friday for Barrett read, in part, that he had attempted to “hide his identity” by giving police a different name.