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Both Johan Matallana-Gomez, age 29, and Jhonn Pulido Betancur, age 46, were arrested on Friday, Nov. 1 while burglarizing a residence in Mount Pleasant on Swanson Drive, Mount Pleasant Police announced on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
According to the department, just after 8 p.m. on Friday, a resident alerted the department that she had heard the sound of breaking glass at her neighbor's home. Arriving officers soon found that a rear window had been smashed at the residence and began setting up a perimeter around the home.
Minutes later, Matallana-Gomez ran out of the rear sliding door, and in a "desperate escape maneuver," he vaulted over a fence to the lower backyard, fracturing his right ankle in the landing, the department said.
Officers then apprehended him, according to police, who added that Pulido Betancur then tried to escape the home by jumping from a deck on the second floor. Immediately upon landing, he was tackled by three officers.
According to Mount Pleasant Police Chief Paul Oliva, a third accomplice also likely ran from the home as police arrived. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
The duo is believed to be part of a broader criminal organization targeting families of Indian and Chinese descent, which includes the burglary victims. This was made evident by a Wi-Fi jammer left behind at the scene, which can be used to disable security cameras and Wi-Fi connections and is a tool often used by the burglary ring, the department said.
After they were apprehended, Matallana-Gomez and Pulido Betancur were both charged with second-degree burglary. Matallana-Gomez was arrested at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla before undergoing surgery for his injuries, according to police.
He remains in custody at the hospital, while Pulido Betancur was remanded to Westchester County Jail. They could both be eligible for release later in the week because of current bail legislation.
One of the suspects is in the country illegally, the department said.
"It was a fantastic job by patrol, and I am super proud of their quick response and professionalism," Oliva said of the incident, adding, "Unfortunately, we are not immune from the problems caused by an open border policy, but we will continue to do our job to protect the community."
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