Suspect shot and killed by Berrien County police had long rap sheet

Sheriff: Suspect believed to be involved in home break-ins in multiple counties

February 14, 2012|By Kelli Stopczynski (stopczynski@wsbt.com)

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY – The man who was shot and killed by a Berrien County sheriff’s deputy had a long history with police. William Robert Barker of Niles died from multiple gunshot wounds, said St. Joseph County Deputy Coroner Nancy Pemberton.

But the official autopsy results from Barker’s body will take approximately six to eight weeks to be processed. The name of the officer who shot Barker multiple times is Trent Babcock. He’s been on the force more than 15 years.

Barker, 37, had rap sheets with police in at least three counties for everything from domestic violence, to a felony home invasion, home burglaries and leaving the scene of an accident.

Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey told WSBT his deputies have been working with police in St. Joseph, Cass and Elkhart counties for months, trying to catch Barker. Monday three undercover officers followed up on a tip that he was at a motel in Niles Township, close to the state line.

Barker was also a suspect in a slew of recent home break-ins.

“He was just taking anything he could get his hands on to carry out – jewelry, credit cards, wallets – I know on one of the breaking and enterings we suspect he went into the residence and took the wallet off the night stand while the people were sleeping,” Bailey said.

Berrien County issued a warrant for Barker in October, alleging Barker used those stolen credit cards.

“He chose that because of his drug addiction,” Bailey said.

When the three officers caught up with Barker outside that motel, police said he took off into a neighborhood and attempted to go inside a house when one of the officers tried to stop him.

“That’s real serious,” Bailey said. “Especially when he was giving him commands and identified himself as a police officer. So when [Barker] did not follow those commands and started attacking [Babcock] with a knife, my deputy defended himself and had to use force.”

Babcock fired multiple shots.

Barker died later at Memorial Hospital.

“It's unfortunate that he didn't make it after being shot but he picked that ending for himself,” Bailey said. “My thing is all these people on drugs that are breaking into houses need to get themselves into rehab and understand the issues they're having. Law enforcement and the community are not going to tolerate this type of behavior.”

Babcock didn’t have serious cuts to his hand from the knife Barker used, Bailey said.

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