SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A man from Springfield with no permanent home was charged in federal court on Tuesday with an armed bank robbery last week. Dale Barkfelt, 33, is charged in a criminal complaint that was filed in U.S. District Court. Investigators believe Barkfelt used a handgun to rob Great Southern Bank, 1615 W. Sunshine St., Springfield, on April 9.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint by an FBI agent, Barkfelt entered the bank at approximately 2 p.m. and placed a white plastic grocery bag on a teller counter. He wore no disguise and had a purple bandana on his head, a white shirt, tan sandals, and black and yellow rimmed glasses. A teller said Barkfelt pointed a semi-automatic handgun at her and said, “Put it in there.” The teller handed Barkfelt $966, the affidavit says, and he left the bank.
Approximately three hours after the robbery, the affidavit says, a Springfield police officer recognized Barkfelt in a bank surveillance photo. The officer was familiar with Barkfelt from previous police-related contacts, according to the affidavit, and had been in contact with Barkfelt within the previous week.
