MONGAUP VALLEY — Sheriff's deputies have arrested a Monticello man they say was trying to break into a SullivanArc group home near Mongaup Valley.

Jose Martinez, 27, was taken into custody Sunday after a manhunt by Town of Fallsburg and NY State Police K-9 units.

According to Undersheriff Eric Chaboty, Martinez's estranged girlfriend works at the group home on Starlight Road. She has an order of protection against him.

Chaboty said Martinez saw the woman at a restaurant in Rock Hill Saturday night and then allegedly broke into her Monticello home early Sunday morning.

Shortly thereafter, he traveled to her workplace, allegedly attempting repeatedly to get in the group home.

“He partially got in the back door, but staff members pushed him back out,” Chaboty related. “... He was definitely trying to make contact with her, and she was scared for her safety.”

By the time police responded, Martinez had fled, said Chaboty, and after about a two-hour search, he was found in a swamp off South Maplewood Road about a mile away.

Martinez was taken into custody midday Sunday and charged with burglary in the second degree, two counts of criminal contempt in the first degree (all felonies), and the misdemeanors of resisting arrest, criminal mischief in the fourth degree and harassment. He was arraigned in Thompson Town Court and remanded to Sullivan County Jail on $50,000 bail. Chaboty said Martinez remained there as of yesterday.

SullivanArc released a statement yesterday on the incident.

“We are proud of the three staff members whose actions thwarted the suspect's attempt to gain access to the house through forced entry. Because the staff's priority was to keep the residents safe, we are thankful and relieved that no injuries were sustained by either the residents or the staff.

“We are also thankful to both the Sullivan County Sheriff's Department and New York State Troopers for their quick response, apprehension of the suspect, and their sensitivity toward the residents.”

SullivanArc's full statement follows:

"SullivanArc, which has been in Sullivan County since 1949, provides support and services to over 1,100 people with developmental disabilities and employs over 550 staff members.

One of the programs, Residential Services, houses approximately 150 people in 21 family style residential homes in Sullivan County. The homes average three to nine people per house.

The homes blend into each of their neighborhoods and do not stand out, or have any outwardly indication that people with disabilities reside in them.

The homes, including the Starlight Road residence, are fully staffed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

We are proud of the three staff members whose actions thwarted the suspect's attempt to gain access to the house through forced entry.

Because the staff's priority was to keep the residents safe, we are thankful and relieved that no injuries were sustained by either the residents or the staff.

We are also thankful to both the Sullivan County Sheriff's Department and New York State Troopers for their quick response, apprehension of the suspect, and their sensitivity toward the residents."