WATSONVILLE, Calif. -- Watsonville detectives say they arrested 35 year old Jason Matthew Haas at his home in Santa Cruz.

Haas was taken into custody along the 1600 block of Merrill Street. Officers served a search warrant and arrested Haas for embezzlement and theft. Investigators believe Haas was conducting businesses under the name Payroll Management Group and was providing services to a San Jose-based company.

Investigators found out that Haas had access to the company's bank account and said Haas was using his payroll software group to turn Royal Coach Payroll tax funds into checks made out to Payroll Management Group. Officers believe Haas took more than $560, 000 between March 2012 to September 2012. The money was supposed to be paid to the State of California and the IRS.

Crews have made major progress cleaning up after a fire decimated the Apple Growers Ice and Cold Storage facility five months ago, and officials said the owners are likely to sell the property once it is complete.

Monday, workers were sorting through the remaining rubble, breaking bottles of sparkling cider by throwing them into a growing pile.  Mark Corley, with Redenbacher & Corley Construction Services, said the juice runs off into a drainage system that already existed in the building.

Once collected, it had been slowly poured down Watsonville's sewer system.  Corley said the juice was first processed at the nearby Martinelli's plant because city officials asked to raise the pH, concerned a large amount of acidic apple juice could damage the city's pipes. 

Corley said crews expect to collect 200,000 gallons of juice, and 150,000 gallons have already been processed and poured down

The fair is hiring 24 workers to clean and maintain the bathrooms at the Fairgrounds during the Santa Cruz County Fair.

The fair runs September 13-18.

Those interested are asked to download the employment application at www.santacruzcountyfair.com/employment or request an application package by emailing  info@santacruzcountyfair.com