FROM CHIEF P.K. JOHNSON
MILLBROOK POLICE DEPARTMENT
On April 30, 2024, at approximately 2:58 AM, Millbrook police officers responded to a possible burglary in progress, at a business located in the 4000 block of Highway 14. Upon arrival, officers noted that there was forcible entry of the business. Officers made entry, where they encountered and detained the offender, later identified as Zachary Murray, a 33-year-old Millbrook resident, without incident.
Detectives with the Millbrook Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit responded to the scene, where they collected physical evidence to include burglary tools. Murray was placed under arrest, being charged with Burglary 3rd Degree and Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree. He was transported to the Millbrook Police Department for processing. While conducting their investigation, detectives noted that Murray matched the description of a suspect wanted in connection with the burglary of a business committed the previous week, which was currently being investigated.
On Friday, April 26, 2024, Millbrook police responded to a burglary of a business in the 5000 block of Main Street. Millbrook detectives processed the scene, collecting physical evidence in that case.
On April 30, 2024, Millbrook detectives executed a search warrant at Murray’s James Drive residence, where evidence was collected connecting Murray to the April 26th Burglary. As a result of evidence collected during the search warrant, Murray was also additionally charged with Burglary 3rd Degree and Theft of Property 1st Degree. Murray was transported to the Elmore County Jail, where he will be held with no bond pending warrants being obtained and served.
This is an example of outstanding police work from everyone involved in this case. We received a 911 call this morning from a passer-by, who heard the noise when the alleged offender was forcibly entering the business. Our patrol officers responded promptly, securing the building and quickly apprehending the offender, without incident. The scene was turned over to detectives, who while conducting their investigation, quickly realized that the offender that we had in custody for the burglary that had just occurred, matched the description of the suspect wanted for a similar burglary of a local business committed the previous week.
Based on the evidence on hand, knowledge of the previous burglary, as well as similarities between both offenses, detectives secured a search warrant for the alleged offender’s residence. Upon executing the warrant, our detectives recovered evidence from the suspect’s residence, which connected him to the previous burglary, which was committed April 26th, which resulted in the additional charges against Murray.
Murray was out of jail on bond for previous felony drug charges at the time of his arrest. Our detectives have petitioned the District Attorney’s Office with regard to having his bond revoked due to his arrest on the current charges.
People that commit drug offenses have a propensity to commit property crimes in order to finance their habit, which appears to be the circumstances in this case. That being said, it appears that the alleged offender in this case was engaged in a series of ongoing criminal acts prior to being apprehended this morning. I appreciate our officers’ efforts to take this individual off of our streets and curb these crimes against our local businesses. I also want to say thank you to the young man who called 911 this morning. His quick and decisive actions most certainly helped us apprehend this offender, which allowed us to clear two Burglaries.
