John Paul Stalker. (Courtesy Portage Co. Jail)

Police: Stevens Point man arrested after underwear theft burglary

By Brandi Makuski

STEVENS POINT — A 41-year-old Stevens Point man was arrested this week after police say he broke into a residence near the UW-Stevens Point campus and stole a woman’s underwear.

According to the Stevens Point Police Department, officers were called Monday, June 8, to a residence in the 1900 block of College Ave. after a 21-year-old woman reported that all of her underwear had been stolen from her bedroom.

Investigators determined that only the victim’s underwear was taken. Nothing else was reported missing from the bedroom, and no items were taken from the bedrooms of the home’s five other tenants, police said.

Officers established a timeline of when residents had been away from the property and began canvassing the neighborhood for surveillance footage. Police obtained video from a nearby residence and identified a potential suspect as John P. Stalker, 41.

Police later located and questioned Stalker about the theft. He was arrested on a burglary charge, along with multiple counts of bail jumping stemming from open criminal cases. Two of those cases involve stalking charges, according to police.

Detectives obtained a search warrant that was reviewed by the Portage County District Attorney’s Office and approved by Judge Louis Molepske Jr. During a search of Stalker’s backpack, officers reportedly recovered the victim’s stolen underwear.

Stalker was booked into the Portage County Jail and appeared in Portage County Circuit Court on Wednesday, June 10. Court records show Judge Molepske set a $40,000 cash bond.

Police said they are also investigating Stalker in connection with a similar incident and indicated additional charges may be filed.

During a search of Stalker’s property, investigators found additional women’s underwear that did not belong to victims in the two reported cases. Police are asking anyone who may have experienced a similar theft to contact the Stevens Point Police Department at 715-346-1500.

The investigation remains ongoing.