Warrant issued for Muldrow man in church burglary

An arrest warrant has been issued in Sequoyah County District Court for a Muldrow man charged with second-degree burglary following the break-in of a Muldrow church on February 14.

Associate District Judge Kyle Waters on March 3 set a $5,000 bond for Matthew T. Green, 25. Green is additionally charged with a criminal misdemeanor count of malicious injury to property, under $1,000.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, Lt. Riley Brooks with the Muldrow Police Department reported there had been a break-in at the Trinity Church. Officer Chance Yoakum told Brooks that a window had been broken out of the church, reportedly causing several hundreds of dollars in damage.

Later that day, Brooks was able to obtain video surveillance which reportedly showed a suspect walking around the church and checking all the windows. Just before an alarm went off, you could see the suspect sprint from the parking lot and run west, according to the affidavit.

On Feb. 15, Asst. Chief Brad Roberts was off-duty and driving on E. 1100 Road when he noticed the suspect, who matched the description of the individual who broke into the church. Roberts notified the Sheriff ’s Office and Muldrow Officer Jerry Brooks to respond to the location where Green was spotted. Green was said to have been wearing the same clothing that he had on the night prior.

When Green was questioned about being at the church the night before, he reportedly admitted to being there but claimed he didn’t break into anything. When he was shown the photos of the suspect from the video surveillance, he admitted the suspect did look like him.

A few days later, Brooks was able to review video surveillance from the church, which allegedly showed the suspect going to the church van, which was parked outside, opening the door and entering it for a short time. The suspect can then be seen walking to a church bus and trying to get in, but not being able to do so. That’s when the suspect begins walking around the church and lookin into windows. The suspect is then seen going out of the camera’s view before sprinting across the parking lot, going west.

Brooks then submitted his report to the District Attorney’s office for review, and requested a warrant be issued for Green’s arrest.

District Attorney Jack Thorp said if convicted of second-degree burglary, it is punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years.