Gym Records Help Police Identify Suspect in Stolen Credit Card Case

JONESBORO, Ark. — Surveillance footage from a gym, gas station and sporting goods store helped Jonesboro police identify a suspect accused of stealing two payment cards and attempting to use them at local businesses.

Matthew Lee Turner is accused of using one of the cards for a $76.27 fuel purchase and attempting to make an $830.45 purchase at a sporting goods store, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Craighead County Circuit Court.

The investigation began May 14 when a victim reported that her credit or debit card had been used without permission at a gas station the previous day. Another transaction was attempted at a sporting goods store.

The victim said the cards were no longer in her wallet and believed they may have been stolen from a locker room at a local gym her husband visited May 13. She described one card as pink and the other as blue and yellow.

Police obtained surveillance footage from the gym, gas station and sporting goods store.

At the gas station, officers located video of a black four-door Ram truck approaching a fuel pump. The person who exited the truck wore a black hat displaying the Mexican flag, a black, red and green shirt with another Mexican flag and “Mexico” written across it, and gray and white slides.

The person allegedly used the victim’s card to purchase fuel before leaving the business.

Employees at the sporting goods store located video of an attempted $830.45 transaction. Police said the person shown in that footage wore the same clothing seen at the gas station.

Before approaching the register, the person allegedly attempted to push a shopping cart filled with merchandise through two separate fire exits. At the register, he reportedly attempted to use a pink card and then a blue and yellow card. Both were declined.

The person left the store without the merchandise and entered the same Ram truck seen at the gas station, according to police.

Investigators then reviewed footage from the gym during the period the victim’s husband was there. Police said the same person seen at the other two businesses appeared in the gym video.

A gym manager identified the person who checked in as Turner and provided information about his listed home gym. Police served a search warrant for Turner’s gym account history and verified his identity through law enforcement databases.

Investigators located an Iowa driver’s license for Turner and reported making a positive identification by comparing the license photograph with the surveillance footage.

A bench warrant was issued for Turner’s arrest May 28. He was later arrested outside Arkansas and transported to the Craighead County Detention Center on July 27.

Turner is charged with theft of credit or debit cards, a Class D felony; theft of $1,000 or less from a building, a Class A misdemeanor; fraudulent use of a stolen credit card or account number, a Class A misdemeanor; and criminal attempt, a Class B misdemeanor.

The felony charge is punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Each Class A misdemeanor carries up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. The Class B misdemeanor carries up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Judge David Boling set Turner’s bond Wednesday at $10,000 cash or surety.

His next court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Sept. 30 at the Craighead County Courthouse.

Turner is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.