Man Suspected of 50+ Crimes in Ballwin Arrested

Jeremy Burkhalter, a man suspected of more than 50 crimes in Ballwin and more throughout St. Louis County, was arrested around 5:30 a.m. Thursday by Town & County police.

Police said officers took Burkhalter, 27, into custody after a foot chase on Turnberry Park Lane near Clayton and Ballas roads. Investigators said a heroin addiction played a role in Burkhalter's alleged crime spree.

Police said Burkhalter was caught after being seen in Town & Country this morning driving a car stolen from Kirkwood earlier this week.

Town & Country Police Cpt. Gary Hoelzer told Patch that Burkhalter already had been spotted in other jurisdictions early Thursday morning before he made it to Town & Country. 

"So we knew he as out there, and we were looking for him," Hoelzer said.

Town & Country Police Sergeant John Flanagan spotted and followed Burkhalter onto Turnberry Park Lane, where, unknown to Burkhalter, another officer already was patroling. Investigators said Burkhalter soon realized he was caught between the two officers, so he turned into a residential driveway then fled on foot.

"Our detectives were at the station meeting up with detectives from other police departments, along with U.S. Marshals, to track down Burkhalter when he came right into the lair," said Town & Country Police Cpt. Gary Hoelzer.

Sgt. Jim Heldmann of the Ballwin Police Department said his department likely will charge Burkhalder with committed in Ballwin.

Burkhalder was in custody of the Town & Country Police Department early Thursday, Heldmann said, but will be transferred to the St. Louis County Jail in Clayton pending felony charges handled by the county state’s attorney. Once transferred, a detective from the Ballwin Police Department will interview the suspect.

“There’s a lot of departments out there that want him, so we’re going to have to get down there and try to get in the line of the people who want to question him,” Heldmann said.

Hoelzer said in a news release that officers and detectives from Des Peres, Kirkwood, Maryland Heights and Ladue converged on the area, and Burkhalter was taken into custody without incident.

"Great work by Sergeant Flanagan, Officer Ronnie Nicoletti, Corporal Chris Moore and all three of our detectives: Sergeant Rick Kranz, Joe Giacopelli and Jim Gorman," Hoelzer said. "It's one of those where it takes a lot of people to get involved, including the community."

Hoelzer said the reason Burkhalter kept returning to cities where police were actively searching for him was due to a heroin addiction.

"This is an anecdotal experience with heroin," Hoelzer said. "He was going to commit crimes until he was caught, to feed his habit."

As of Thursday afternoon, Burkhalter was being held in Town & Country and will be transferred to the St. Louis County Jail on St. Louis County warrants. Warrants for Town & Country are pending.

Editor Chase Castle contributed to this report.