Dec. 04--LOCKPORT -- Lockport police caught up with Matthew E. Bartz on Friday and, after a brief struggle, took the suspected serial burglar into custody.
Bartz, 30, of Bartz Road, Town of Lockport, was dubbed "wanted, armed and dangerous" by the Lockport Police Department on Thursday, after he evaded officers from three police agencies trying to catch up with him.
Bartz, who faces charges of burglary, conspiracy and possession of stolen property in connection with a series of business break-ins in the city, had been on the run from police since Sunday, when his suspected getaway driver, Stephanie L. Mottorn, 21, of South Niagara Street, was charged with the same crimes.
Police had stopped Mottorn's car Saturday night on Vine Street, a few blocks away from the site of a reported burglary in progress, and when a search of her vehicle turned up an array of burglar tools and keys fitting various lock types, Mottorn said they belonged to Bartz.
Bartz was captured in an apartment house parking lot near Davison Road and East High Street about 1:30 p.m. Friday.
Det. Capt. Rick Podgers was already in the area, investigating a tip Bartz was hiding in a single-family home, when he got word Bartz had just been seen running out the back door of a three-story brick apartment house. Podgers had noted Bartz's blue Silverado pickup was parked in the apartment house lot but figured Bartz would not park so close to where he was hiding. Podgers said he let the air out of the Silverado's tires before he returned to searching for Bartz, just in case.
After fleeing the apartment house, Bartz reportedly ran across the parking lot, then turned back and was cornered by waiting police.
Cuffing Bartz "was a struggle," Podgers said. Bartz scraped his fingers when he hit the pavement and his blood was transferred to an arresting officer. Because Bartz is a known intravenous drug user, Podgers said, the officer was taken to Eastern Niagara Hospital for examination.
Bartz's locked Silverado was towed to the police garage, where Podgers anticipated having to break it open to retrieve one or more long guns he believes were inside.
Bartz was likely to be arraigned on the burglary and related charges this morning in City Court.
The tenant in whose apartment Bartz was hiding is not facing any charges at this point, Podgers said Friday. When police knocked at the door, the tenant said Bartz had just left and consented to a search of the premises.
Among the keys seized from Mottorn's vehicle, police were able to match some up with commercial offices in the city and in Amherst. Investigators now suspect Bartz was involved in "dozens" of medical/office break-ins in Niagara and Erie counties over the past few months, Police Chief Larry Eggert said previously.
Six business burglaries in the city in October and early November showed a similar characteristic, a lack of forced entry. Police speculate the burglar or burglars stole building keys first so they could return.
Copyright 2011 - Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, N.Y.
