http://www.mydailyrecord.com/main.asp?S ... leID=81772

10/18/2006 11:19:00 AM

Coats Men Accused Of Terrorizing Community

Jason Beck
Reporter

Three suspects in a ring of area break-ins were caught Monday by Sampson County Sheriff's deputies. Authorities say the three Coats men had been targeting families in Latino communities in three counties.

Jose Carlos Ramieriez Hernandez, 30, of N.C. 27, Coats, Omar Perez Chavez, 26, and Rosario Moises Perez Chales, 29, both of 34 Fourth St., Coats were arrested and charged with three counts each of first-degree burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping.

The three are all being held at the Sampson County Detention Center under $500,000 bond.

Peggy Sue Swink, 36, was with the three suspects and was found to be wanted in Wake County for probation violations.

According to Sheriff Jimmy Thornton, the three men allegedly are involved in a string of armed robberies. His deputies were waiting for their next attack when the suspects were caught.

"Based on the pattern identified by detectives, they set up surveillance with assistance from the Highway Enforcement Awareness Team over a two-week period," he said. "On Sunday night their hard work paid off.

"The people who terrorized the Hispanic community in northern Sampson County and Duplin County were brought to justice," he said.

Chief Deputy John Conerly said the men had attacked three Sampson families, one Duplin family and one Johnston family. When officers spotted a car matching the description of the one used by the men, they moved in.

He said the men who allegedly committed the crimes knew what they were after when they entered a home.

"They were mostly looking for money, cell phones, ID cards etc.," Chief Conerly said. "It was armed home invasion."

He speculated the three men, who are all illegal aliens, could have been using the ID cards to steal legal citizens' identities. He said he has no idea how much money or valuables have been stolen.

Chief Conerly said he hopes the arrests will build trust between the Latino community and the sheriff's office. He said the department experienced no real communication problem while investigating the crimes and is glad to serve everyone living in the county.

"We serve them too," he said. "We have several Hispanic officers, so it worked out."