February 21st, 2015 by WCBC Radio

On Friday,  officers from the Cumberland City Police Department responded to 110 Pennsylvania Avenue for a breaking and entering complaint.  Upon the officers arrival they made contact with the victim who lived in apartment #3.  While speaking with the victim he informed the officers that his apartment was broken into while he was gone.  Upon returning home, he stated to the officers that he approached the front door of the apartment complex and observed his neighbor, Matthew John Gonzales looking out the front door of the main entrance.   After entering the complex, Gonzales was gone.  After the victim reached the front door to his apartment, he noticed the door to be kicked in.  A check of the apartment was conducted and the victim found numerous items missing from his residence.  The victim said that he was missing over $300 in cash, a bag of change, two bottles of his medication and two police scanners.  While officers were checking the exterior of the apartment door they noticed a distinct shoe pattern on the door next to the door handle.  Officers were able to locate Mr. Gonzales who was inside his apartment.  While speaking with Gonzales, he denied committing the burglary, but officers noticed he was wearing a pair of Nike tennis shoes.  The heel of his shoes had the same pattern that was found on the victim’s door.  Based on the evidence that the officers had, they secured the residence and obtained a search warrant.   The search warrant was executed a short time later with the assistance of C3I and the Maryland State Police Crime Lab.  During a search of Mr. Gonzales residence, officers were able to recover the bag of change, several scanners and an empty prescription bottle belonging to the victim.  Mr. Gonzales was placed under arrest at the scene and transported to the Cumberland City Police Department for processing.  Gonzales was processed, served and taken before the District Court Commissioner for his initial appearance.  Gonzales was later held in the Allegany County Detention Center on $20,000. 

 

 

Arrested: Matthew John Gonzales                                    Age: 29 of Cumberland, Maryland

 

Charges: 1^st Degree Breaking and Entering, Destruction of Property, 2 counts of Theft less than $1,000 and Possession of CDS.