Caught in a sweeping show of force A five-county regional task force rounded up 154 suspects.

A pregnant heroin user is wanted in a fraud case.

A man - caught in mid-cheesesteak and 42-ounce beer at 8:30 a.m. - is wanted for allegedly failing to pay child support.

Another man is already shackled when his girlfriend finds the receipt proving his child support is paid.

They are three of more than 150 suspects caught up in Pennsylvania's five-county warrant task force, which conducted a sweep this week.

Each morning, a 25-member team swept through one of the participating counties - Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia - with groups of five to 10 deputies taking turns surrounding suspects' homes and making arrests.

The investment of about five deputies per jurisdiction produces a show of force that reaps substantial results in arrests and child-support collections, ones that a single department cannot match for the time invested.

"We just don't have those resources," said Chester County Sheriff Carolyn Bunny Welsh. "This is a great way to get around that."

The counties experimented with a team approach last year and were pleased with the results. Most suspects are wanted for failure to pay child support - all of Delaware County's warrants were in that category - but some are sought for probation violations and other charges. In Montgomery County, a murder suspect was picked up in the sweep.

Delaware County Sheriff Joseph F. McGinn said the public benefits from the cooperation, particularly in child-support cases. He said more than $21,000 was collected this week in Delaware County alone.

"People need to understand that when the money isn't paid, society pays through food stamps and welfare," he said.

On Thursday, the teams were in Chester County, and they had reason to believe that 31-year-old Demeire Lynn Profeto was home about 9 a.m. when they encircled her two-story Valley Township residence.

After repeatedly knocking and calling her name, they threatened to break down the door. Profeto, who was wanted in a fraud case, then opened the door, becoming one of 28 people taken into custody in the county.

As Montgomery County Deputy Sheriff Joanne Plasterer handcuffed Profeto, she saw blood oozing from Profeto's arm. She asked if Profeto had been using heroin.

Montgomery County Deputy Sheriff Greg Appleton grabbed a can of disinfectant and begin to spray the shackles and other surfaces that had come in contact with the blood.

In response to other questions about drug use, Profeto replied, "I can't detox, because I'm pregnant."

A half-dozen deputies winced in response.

"It's heartbreaking," said Welsh as she witnessed the exchange.

Not all of the suspects were easily intimidated. Some pleaded ignorance of the charges against them. Others offered excuses. Many were verbally combative.

"Basically, we hear it all," said Eddie Velez of the Philadelphia sheriff's fugitive unit as one resident denied knowledge of his stepson's whereabouts.

Some who were approached wanted to tell officers the limits of their authority.

James A. Johnson, 41, was having a cheesesteak and a beer when the task force came calling at his Coatesville home, said Montgomery County Deputy Sheriff Morgan Frank.

"His mother insisted he wasn't there," Frank said. "She said we could search downstairs, but not upstairs."

Chester County Deputy Lt. John Freas said many people incorrectly believe that deputies need a search warrant.

"If an arrest or bench warrant was issued, that gives us the right to enter the house and search for the person" when we have information they are there, Freas said.

And if contraband is in plain sight, deputies can seize it, Freas said.

Although most detainees insist that authorities have the wrong person, one individual was correct.

"I guarantee you, you're making a mistake," said Steven Williams, 44, as he was shackled.

His girlfriend, Stacy McCain, scurried into their Modena residence and produced a receipt that showed Williams had recently caught up on child-support payments for his three children, now grown.

"You could have been getting some real criminals," mused Williams as deputies apologized for the paperwork error.

Williams did get a consolation prize: a satellite photo of his house that deputies used as a tracking aid.

The task force doesn't always have to knock at someone's door to be effective. Sometimes fear alone is a catalyst.

Welsh said one man heard about the sweep on Thursday and showed up at the sheriff's office the same day.

He coughed up $3,000 in child support to avoid getting locked up, she said.

He wasn't on the list.

Bucks. . . 30

Chester. . . 28

Delaware. . . 36

Montgomery. . . 47

Philadelphia . . . 13

Total . . . 154

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View a slide show of the week's work of the five-county task force at http://go.philly.com/photosEndText