El Dorado County man arrested in museum heist

By Cathy Locke, Sacramento Bee

The California Highway Patrol has announced the arrest of three men in connection with the Sept. 28 robbery of the California State Mining and Mineral Museum in Mariposa.

The robbery involved the theft of more than $1 million in precious metals, mostly gold.

Search warrants were served Tuesday morning in El Dorado, Sacramento and Sutter counties.

Edward Rushing III, 40, of El Dorado County was arrested on suspicion of multiple felonies, including drug charges, and is believed to be a conspirator in the Mariposa heist, according to a CHP news release.

Two men were arrested in Sutter County.

Matthew Campbell, 43, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery, and Jonathan Matis, 41, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery, armed robbery, vehicle theft and vandalism.

Officials said the investigation is continuing, and there may be additional arrests and charges.

The robbery occurred while the museum was open for business.

The suspects smashed display cases to steal the gold and gems, and their actions were captured on surveillance cameras at the museum, officials said.

CHP investigators, in cooperation with the Mariposa and Placer county sheriff’s departments, and the Sacramento Police Department identified the suspects in the museum heist and linked them to other crimes in Sacramento and Placer counties, according to the news release.