MARYSVILLE — A surveillance camera caught an ex-employee and another man breaking into a Burger King just before the building burst into flames, police say.
Monday’s fire caused more than $700,000 in damage. The business likely will be shut down until June.
Police believe a former employee, 19, started the fire in the restaurant office. He told another man he had the combination to the store safe, court documents said.
Officers found the drive-through window broken out and computer equipment hidden in the bushes outside the building.
The teen, who went to work at McDonald’s after he left Burger King, was arrested Wednesday for investigation of arson and burglary. He appeared Thursday in court where he was ordered held on $100,000 bail.
A second man, 22, also was arrested for investigation of burglary. He was released from jail Wednesday.
The older suspect told police the teen threw a rock through the drive-up window, court documents said.
The surveillance tape shows the older man crawling through the broken drive-up window and opening a restaurant door for the teen.
The older man told police he was the lookout while the teen was inside the restaurant. He eventually abandoned his post to meet up with friends who were waiting down the street, court documents said.
He told detectives the teen later called and asked if they could see smoke coming from the Burger King. The older man denied knowing that his friend was going to set fire to the restaurant.
The teen told police he wasn’t involved in the break-in or fire. He said he’d gone home at midnight.
A surveillance camera at the Fourth Street Market, across the street from the Burger King, captured both suspects on tape earlier in the night, court documents said.
Police believe the men were drunk at the time of the burglary and fire.
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
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