Staff Report

James Henry Barr

NORTH WEBSTER — A Columbia City man involved in a February vehicle pursuit was arrested on warrants for two robbery incidents that occurred in September 2020.

In the first case, James Henry Barr, 36, 119 Raleigh Court, Columbia City, is charged with burglary, a level 2 felony; robbery and criminal confinement, both level 3 felonies; intimidation with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; theft and theft with a prior conviction, both level 6 felonies; theft, a class A misdemeanor; criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor; and habitual offender enhancement.

Barr is also charged with robbery with bodily injury, a level 3 felony; battery resulting in moderate bodily injury and sentence enhancement theft, both level 6 felonies; and theft, a class A misdemeanor, in a second case.

On Sept. 9, 2020, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer responded to a burglary in progress at a residence. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a woman who said a man, later identified as Barr, had forcibly entered her residence by kicking in a door.

According to court documents, Barr allegedly entered the woman’s bedroom while she was contacting 911, placed a knife to her throat and demanded a set of car keys. Barr also took the woman’s phone from her. He then found a set of keys in the bedroom which belonged to a Nissan Rogue that was parked at the residence.

Multiple times during the incident, Barr made threatening gestures with the knife until he found the set of car keys he was looking for. He left the residence in the Nissan Rogue while in possession of the woman’s phone. While investigating the burglary, the officer noticed multiple lights on the residence’s exterior were damaged. The woman said the lights were not damaged prior to the incident. The officer also found the woman’s cellphone in the driveway.

The Nissan Rogue’s owner said she gave permission for an unnamed individual to use her vehicle but that she didn’t give Barr permission to take the vehicle.

While helping officers with their investigation, the woman described a tattoo on Barr’s chest. A Warsaw Police officer provided the woman with an eight-person line-up for her to view; the woman identified Barr, who was in the lineup, as her assailant.

On Sept. 11, 2020, a North Webster Police officer went to a location regarding a battery incident. Upon arrival, the officer met with a man who said he was jumped by two men. According to court documents, the man said two men punched and kicked him, then took his cellphone and keys to his moped.

The officer noticed the man had bruising and scratches on the left side of his forehead, a small bruise on the bridge of his nose, a swollen and cut lower lip and bruising on his arm. The man said he recognized one of his assailants as Barr and provided the officer with a description of the vehicle Barr left in.

The driver of the suspect vehicle told the officer that Barr and the victim were in a verbal argument when she arrived at the scene. The officer made several attempts to speak with Barr about the incident but was unable to locate him.

Barr has been previously convicted of dealing methamphetamine, theft and neglect of a dependent.

He was arrested on warrants on Feb. 4 for both of these robbery cases.