Tennessee law enforcement officials confirmed that eight migrant workers were arrested on Saturday for looting an area devastated by the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.
A Monday Facebook post by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said, “According to Sheriff Keith Sexton, Deputies arrested eight men for looting on Saturday, Sept. 28.”
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office noted that 24-year-old Albin Nahun Vega-Rapalo, 37-year-old David Bairon Rapalo-Rapalo, 25-year-old Kevin Noe Martinez-Lopez, 43-year-old Marvin Hernandez-Martinez, and 37-year-old Dayln Gabriel Guillen Guillen were charged with “Aggravated Burglary for breaking into occupied structures.” Meanwhile, 51-year-old Jesus Leodan Garcia-Peneda, 33-year-old Ersy Leonel Ortis-Valdez, and 30-year-old Josue Berardo Ortis-Valdez are also facing burglary charges.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the eight suspects were being held at the Washington County Detention Center on $20,000 bonds prior to their expected court appearances on Monday. The sheriff’s office added that deputies would “continue to patrol our region during the catastrophic flooding, especially along the flood zone.”
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A Washington County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told Fox News that the eight suspects are all migrant workers who are legally in the United States. “That will change as a result of the charges,” the spokeswoman told Fox News.
The spokesperson explained that law enforcement authorities would stop anyone discovered in the flood zones after dark, adding, “We have been through way too much for this kind of behavior.”
The sheriff’s office spokesperson noted that five of the migrants facing burglary charges were found looting residential homes and that three of the migrants were found looting unoccupied homes “that were barely still standing.”
According to Fox News, the eastern region of Tennessee was heavily impacted by heavy rains and flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The outlet reported that at least 133 people have been killed by the massive storm in the Southeastern United States.
