Story Created:
Aug 9, 2010 at 4:33 PM PST
Story Updated:
Aug 9, 2010 at 7:58 PM PST
A Long Beach police officer who allegedly stole four guns that were to be booked as property was charged Monday with 13 felony counts.
Damian Ramos, 32, pleaded not guilty this afternoon to four counts each of grand theft of personal property, grand theft firearm and embezzlement by a police officer, along with one count of possession of an assault weapon.
The charges involve four firearms that were not booked into evidence after a call to a scrap yard to pick up 11 firearms, Deputy District Attorney Alfred Coletta told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Hilleri G. Merritt.
One of the four firearms was recovered, but the other three have not been found, according to the prosecutor.
Defense attorney Darold M. Shirwo told the judge that the officer is "innocent until proven guilty.''
"This is a man that has been entrusted to protect society and he has,'' Shirwo said.
Of the alleged theft, he said, "I don't think it can be tied directly to him.''
The judge ordered Ramos to remain jailed on $100,000 bail, despite the defense's request that he be released on his own recognizance.
He is due back at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse on Aug. 23 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
Ramos was taken into custody Thursday morning after a search turned up evidence connecting him to missing weapons that had been turned over to police, said Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman Nancy Pratt.
"Ramos, a five-year employee with the department, handled a found property call at a Long Beach business,'' Pratt said. "The business turned over numerous weapons to Ramos. However, the department discovered that not all of the weapons had been placed into evidence.''
The number of weapons turned over by the business did not match up with the number of items Ramos turned in and an investigation was immediately launched, Pratt said.
"Upon learning of the potential misconduct by one of our own, we took swift action to ensure that the investigation was handled thoroughly, and I am confident that these were the actions of a single officer,'' Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement. "It is our responsibility to ensure the public's trust within our police department, and anyone who compromises the integrity of this organization will be dealt with immediately.''
Ramos has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the criminal investigation, authorities said.
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