Brookport, IL man arrested, charged in Paducah car wash burglary

PADUCAH, Ky. (KBSI) – A second man was arrested in connection with break-ins at Expressway Car Wash on Park Avenue in Paducah.

Matthew C. Harris, 24, of Brookport, Ill. was arrested Tuesday on warrants charging him with two counts of third-degree burglary.

Harris is accused of breaking into the car wash with Nathan P. Cruse, 27, of West Paducah on Feb. 8 and again on Feb. 20.

Surveillance video showed two men enter the business. The owner of the business identified Cruse, who was terminated from his employment at the car wash several months ago, as a possible suspect.

Detectives interviewed Cruse Feb. 22 and say he admitted breaking into the business three times.

A crowbar used in one of the break-ins was found in Cruse’s vehicle, according to the Paducah Police Department.

Cruse was arrested on warrants charging him with three counts of third-degree burglary and one count of second-degree criminal mischief, and on a charge of first-degree possession of a controlled.

Harris was identified as the second man on the surveillance video.

Paducah police worked with the Massac County Sheriff’s Department to obtain further information about Harris and the source of the crow bar.

Warrants were obtained charging Harris with two counts of third-degree burglary.

He waived extradition after his arrest Tuesday afternoon and was returned to Paducah where he was booked into McCracken County Regional Jail.

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Police: West Paducah man broke into former place of employment 3 times