Robbery suspect’s white shoes could give him away

Home invasion on Fifth Ave. took place just before Oktoberfest 

The white shoes apparently gave him away. 

La Crosse police officers testified Monday at a hearing for armed robbery suspect Mykel Carpenter, who’s accused of taking part in some home invasions just before Oktoberfest. The officers say victims of a robbery at a house on Fifth Ave. S. in La Crosse, remember one of the masked intruders wearing a white pair of sneakers.

Carpenter was seen in the area about five minutes after the robbery complaint, and police said the Winona, Minn., man was wearing white Nikes.

When questioned by Carpenter’s attorney, however, the officers admitted that they don’t know of any video or photos which would link the suspect to the crime scene.

The robbery happened around 2 a.m. Sept. 28 when multiple people entered the home armed with both handguns and shotguns and told those inside to get on the ground. They demanded money and stole items from the home.

Police found Carpenter, 20, a few blocks away on the corner of Seventh and Ferry streets. As police traced his steps from there back to the robbery, they found a mask and stolen property from the home.