SamanthaJane13
Demon Pazuzu/B!tchGoddess
UNION CITY, Calif. -- A man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 2-year-old girl inside a store in Union City, police announced Thursday at a press conference.
Eugene Melendres Ramos, a 36-year-old registered sex offender, allegedly grabbed the girl at about 1 p.m. Wednesday inside a Dollar Tree store located at 1720 Decoto Road, according to Union City police.
The victim was with her grandmother and aunt at the store. When they went to return a ribbon to a Christmas-themed aisle, the girl walked around the aisle and out of view, and was grabbed by Ramos, police said.
Less than a minute later, the grandmother and aunt noticed the girl was missing, and found her pinned down by Ramos in the next aisle over.
"She literally rounded the corner which was probably out of the grandmother and aunt's presence for anywhere from 20 seconds to 1 minute it was that quick," said Union City Police Capt. Brian Foley. "As the grandmother rounded the corner she saw that a male suspect unknown to them had pinned the girl to the floor."
The girl had her pants and diaper removed and was being straddled by Ramos, who had pulled his pants and underwear down and was sexually assaulting her, according to police.
Ramos fled the store on foot and was chased by the grandmother, aunt, and several customers. A solicitor in front of the store also gave chase when he exited the building and tackled him, police said.
A BART police officer who happened to be nearby was flagged down by the small group holding Ramos down.
“I ran after them,” said Good Samaritan Demario Hawkins. “I chased them nine stores down. I finally caught him by the shirt.”
Bystander Sammy Johnson helped Hawkins pin down Ramos until police arrived.
“I just tackled him and sat on him and dialed 911,” said Johnson.
Police arrested Ramos for sexual assault, forcible rape, and kidnapping. Hawkins and Johnson were recognized for the heroism by police Thursday afternoon in city council chambers.
Police Lt. Kelly Musgrove said Thursday that investigators were not yet releasing details of Ramos' criminal record, but according to California's Megan's Law website, which lists registered sexual offenders, he has previously been accused of assault with intent to commit rape, sodomy or oral copulation.
People who shop at the Dollar Tree store located in a Union City shopping complex were sickened when told of the assault on Thursday. They were shocked that someone would be bold enough to molest a child in the middle of a store aisle.
"I really can't believe it," said Gina Gutierrez of Union City. "And I'm very very scared, because I have a 5-year-old and my 3-year-old."
Police said Ramos confessed to assaulting the girl in the store.
"In my 25 years I've never seen anything this brazen, this heinous," said Foley. "This is as bad as it gets."
Anyone who may have witnessed the crime is asked to call Detective Sergeant Jared Rinetti at (510) 675-5229. People wishing to remain anonymous can call the tip line at (510) 675-5207 or e-mail [email protected].
http://www.ktvu.com/news/25999184/detail.html
Eugene Melendres Ramos, a 36-year-old registered sex offender, allegedly grabbed the girl at about 1 p.m. Wednesday inside a Dollar Tree store located at 1720 Decoto Road, according to Union City police.
The victim was with her grandmother and aunt at the store. When they went to return a ribbon to a Christmas-themed aisle, the girl walked around the aisle and out of view, and was grabbed by Ramos, police said.
Less than a minute later, the grandmother and aunt noticed the girl was missing, and found her pinned down by Ramos in the next aisle over.
"She literally rounded the corner which was probably out of the grandmother and aunt's presence for anywhere from 20 seconds to 1 minute it was that quick," said Union City Police Capt. Brian Foley. "As the grandmother rounded the corner she saw that a male suspect unknown to them had pinned the girl to the floor."
The girl had her pants and diaper removed and was being straddled by Ramos, who had pulled his pants and underwear down and was sexually assaulting her, according to police.
Ramos fled the store on foot and was chased by the grandmother, aunt, and several customers. A solicitor in front of the store also gave chase when he exited the building and tackled him, police said.
A BART police officer who happened to be nearby was flagged down by the small group holding Ramos down.
“I ran after them,” said Good Samaritan Demario Hawkins. “I chased them nine stores down. I finally caught him by the shirt.”
Bystander Sammy Johnson helped Hawkins pin down Ramos until police arrived.
“I just tackled him and sat on him and dialed 911,” said Johnson.
Police arrested Ramos for sexual assault, forcible rape, and kidnapping. Hawkins and Johnson were recognized for the heroism by police Thursday afternoon in city council chambers.
Police Lt. Kelly Musgrove said Thursday that investigators were not yet releasing details of Ramos' criminal record, but according to California's Megan's Law website, which lists registered sexual offenders, he has previously been accused of assault with intent to commit rape, sodomy or oral copulation.
People who shop at the Dollar Tree store located in a Union City shopping complex were sickened when told of the assault on Thursday. They were shocked that someone would be bold enough to molest a child in the middle of a store aisle.
"I really can't believe it," said Gina Gutierrez of Union City. "And I'm very very scared, because I have a 5-year-old and my 3-year-old."
Police said Ramos confessed to assaulting the girl in the store.
"In my 25 years I've never seen anything this brazen, this heinous," said Foley. "This is as bad as it gets."
Anyone who may have witnessed the crime is asked to call Detective Sergeant Jared Rinetti at (510) 675-5229. People wishing to remain anonymous can call the tip line at (510) 675-5207 or e-mail [email protected].
http://www.ktvu.com/news/25999184/detail.html
