MONTICELLO, Ill. — The Monticello Police Department has arrested two men in connection with a burglary and methamphetamine precursor case following coordinated efforts with local property and business owners. Officers had been monitoring the 1000 block of S. Market Street due to repeated complaints of trespassing and theft.
Early this morning, just after 3 a.m., officers identified a suspicious vehicle parked in a concealed location. A perimeter was established, and resources including a drone were deployed to locate the suspects on the property.
Alexander Cuthbertson, 33, and Brandon Murray, 48, both from Decatur, were arrested and charged with burglary, trespassing, possession of methamphetamine precursors, and additional offenses. Murray, who is currently on parole, also had outstanding warrants from the Illinois Department of Corrections and Shelby County for retail theft and resisting a peace officer.
The suspects were transported to the Piatt County Jail, where a local judge will determine whether they will remain detained under the Illinois SAFE-T Act.
The Monticello Police Department thanked the Piatt County Sheriff’s Office for drone support and the Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Unit, as well as local businesses for providing camera footage that assisted the investigation.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No further information will be released at this time.
