N.C.: Men may be linked to Union County break-in

Men may be linked to Union County break-in

Saturday, March 05, 2011 12:00 AM

By Shelley Smith


The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men whose fingerprints were flagged by a new federal identification program Thursday.

The AFIS Secure Communities scans all fingerprints in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement database.

The men have since been connected to at least one additional breaking and entering in Union County.

According to authorities, someone called 911 Thursday to report a possible breaking and entering in progress at 2930 W. N.C. 152. Two men were using a pry bar to try to open a door.

Sheriff’s Detective Sara Benfield spotted the suspect’s van, a white Ford Astro, around 2 p.m. Thursday and the witness who reported the break-in identified the two men in the van as those involved in the break-in.

Ricardo Valencia-Perez, 24, refused to give authorities his address. He was charged with attempted breaking and entering, giving fictitious information to an officer and possession of burglary tools.

Juan Emmanuel Martinez-Juarez, 25, of 7035 Coble Ave., Charlotte, was also charged with attempted breaking and entering, giving fictitious information to an officer and possession of burglary tools. He gave officers a different name, but his fingerprints identified him as Martinez-Juarez.

Both men were given $50,000 secured bond and will be prosecuted in Rowan County. ICE will prosecute Valencia-Perez for illegal re-entry. Authorities said he was earlier deported after committing a crime.

Martinez-Juarez told authorities he was born in Texas, and is not in the U.S. illegally, but he will be investigated by ICE.

While authorities were searching through the van, computer components and paperwork belonging to a Union County man was found. Detectives were able to link Martinez-Juarez and Valencia-Perez to a Union County break-in, and believe the men could be responsible for other unsolved break-ins in Rowan and other counties.

Detectives said they will try to solve other break-ins by comparing the pry bar with pry marks found at homes across Rowan.

Anyone with additional information should contact Detective Lt. Chad Moose, 704-216-8700, or Salisbury-Rowan Crimestoppers, 1-866-639-5245.



www.salisburypost.com