A Harrison man was arrested following reports of multiple vehicle break-ins. Thirty-two-year-old Matthew Turner is facing charges of breaking or entering, theft of property, criminal mischief, criminal trespass along with a habitual offender violation.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on May 23, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office received a report of multiple vehicles being broken into at a car lot at the intersection of Arkansas Highway 7 South and Arkansas Highway 206. The victim advised dispatch he had video footage of the suspect and the tool used to unlock the vehicles’ doors.
According to the deputy’s initial report, the suspect, later identified as Tuner, had entered five vehicles. Turner appeared to have attempted to hot wire and siphon gas from a 2007 Ford van and allegedly stole the radio from a 1994 Suzuki Samurai. Three other vehicles had been entered, but nothing appeared to have been taken.
On May 30, deputies investigated the video footage from the May 22 incident and observed a white Ford Edge with a black top drive onto the car lot at 7:52 in the morning. The vehicle did not have a license plate and appeared to be occupied by one person. Additional footage showed Turner wearing tan shorts, a white t-shirt and a white and yellowish hat. The video showed him entering a black SUV and a tow truck. While in the truck, the Turner allegedly turned on the flashing lights and exited with an unknown item. Footage shows Turner was on the car lot for at least 45 minutes.
During the investigation, deputies discovered a possible vehicle match from a crash reported on AR Hwy. 7 in Newton County. According to an accident report from the Arkansas State Police, a white 2009 Ford Edge with no license plate was involved in a single-vehicle accident on May 23. The report showed the vehicle was driven by Turner and it was towed by Gaither Mountain Towing. The towing company told deputies the vehicle was in their impound yard in Western Grove where authorities were then able to match the vehicle to the video footage.
On May 30, deputies received video footage from the accident which allowed them to compare Turner to the suspect at the car lot. Turner had tattoos consistent with the suspect and appeared to be wearing the same hat.
Turner was booked into the Boone County Detention Center where he is facing five felony counts of breaking or entering, one felony count of theft of property, one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief, one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass and habitual offender violation. We was released on a $15,000 bond.
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