Kidnap Suspect Remains Jailed

Matthew Ryan Cruise, 23, of rural Muldrow remained in the Sequoyah County Jail in Sallisaw Monday, after his arrest Friday evening by Muldrow police. Cruise was booked on an attempted kidnapping charge. Muldrow Police Officer Brad Roberts investigated the alleged kidnap attempt and arrested Cruise, who surrendered without mishap he said.  On May 4 two 14-year-old girls and two boys were walking home from the Muldrow Park. The girls told police that Cruise, who they positively identified in a photo lineup, came up to them in the parking lot of a convenience store and asked if one of the girls smoked. She said, "No." Then, she told police, Cruise grabbed her and tried to get her into the pickup truck parked in the store parking lot. The girl got away and the teens ran home and told their parents, who contacted police. The pickup truck was later identified on surveillance cameras at the park and the convenience store. Roberts said the owner of the truck actually called police after seeing the story in the media. He told police he loaned the truck to another man. That man, who was the driver, and a female passenger, were in the convenience store when Cruise allegedly grabbed the teenage girl. Roberts said the driver and the other passenger would not face charges. Roberts said all the information gathered in his investigation will be turned over to the district attorney's office. Roberts was praised by Muldrow Police Chief George Lawson for his quick work on the case. Roberts thanked the public. He said police received many calls from people who identified the pickup. "We couldn't have done this without the public's help," he said. Stay tuned to KXMX for the latest news, or visit www.kxmx.com. By Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director