Massachusetts Men Arrested On Salem NH Robbery, Gun, Other Charges

SALEM, NH — Nashua police and Massachusetts State Police troopers arrested two Bay State men at Rivier University on various charges after a multi-week investigation into a late February robbery at a store in Salem.

Around 8:15 p.m. on Feb. 26, Salem police were sent to a South Broadway business for a report of a robbery. A store employee reported three men, who they had done business with before, entered the store and flashed guns at the employee. The victim was held at gunpoint while they were tied up. They were also assaulted several times, according to a report on Facebook.

The three men stole more than $100,000 in merchandise and cash and fled the scene, according to police.

A detective began to work the case, gathering evidence and eyeing security footage from the business as well as neighboring businesses. Two vehicles were identified, and search warrants were requested for cellphone data, which led to two suspects being identified — Kervin Maitre, 19, of Salem, Massachusetts, and Jose Perlera, 20, of Lunenburg, MA.

“(The) detective was able to backtrack the movements of the two suspects and the vehicles to establish a timeline of the events prior to and following the robbery,” a report stated. “It was at this point that it was discovered one of the suspects was a student at Rivier University in Nashua. Additional evidence related to the robbery was obtained and eventually (the) detective developed enough probable cause to have arrest warrants for the two known suspects issued.”

On Monday, Nashua police and the MSP Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section arrested both men on robbery-firearm, kidnapping, second-degree assault-strangulation, three simple assault, two criminal threatening-deadly weapon, and two reckless conduct-deadly weapon charges. A search warrant was issued for a dorm room at the university and police said a firearm was recovered from each of the suspects, according to a report. Perlera was released to Salem police, but Maitre was held as a fugitive from justice in Massachusetts due to other charges.

Salem police thanked MSP, Nashua, Everett, MA, and Lawrence, MA, police departments, and the Rivier University public safety and security department.

A third suspect is still at large.

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