(Newark, De 19702) Last Wednesday (Mar 25), patrol officers from the New Castle County Division of Police were dispatched to the unit block of Winterhaven Drive, in the community of Spring Crossing, for the report of a robbery in progress involving a machete. When the officers arrived, they observed a subject fleeing that matched the description of the suspect. After a brief foot chase, the officers were able to apprehend the suspect as he ran into an apartment.
As the officers placed the subject into custody, a search of the apartment was conducted. A five-year-old boy was located in a back bedroom sitting on a bed. The child was clad in a bloody t-shirt and suffered from lacerations from his lip. Marijuana was also located in the apartment (180 grams). The child was immediately transported to a local hospital for an evaluation.
The subject that ran from officers was identified as 22-year-old, Julio Ramirez. He was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters and charged with one count of felony Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, one count of felony Conspiracy Second Degree, and one count of misdemeanor Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released on $13,000 unsecured bail.
Julio Ramirez
The initial robbery was determined to be unfounded by the officers.
Detectives from the New Castle County Criminal Investigations Unit Family Services Squad arrived on scene and assumed the investigation into the injured 5-year-old.
Their investigation revealed that the child’s guardians were, in fact, responsible for the injuries and that the injuries were the result of repeated assaults.
After a medical evaluation, it was also revealed that the child was abused in multiple ways to include cutting his hair abnormally to ‘shame’ him. Upon initial contact with the child, it was clear to investigators that his hair had been cut abnormally.
The guardians, 26-year-old Andre Harmon, and 19-year-old Maria Sanchez were arrested and were each charged with six counts of felony Assault Second Degree intentional physical injury to a victim less than six years of age. Both were arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $90,000 cash bail (each).
Yesterday, officers, assisted by medical staff, again met with the 5-year-old victim. A local barber was commissioned and offered to cut the child’s hair. All were medically screened for Covid-19 by medical staff.
The child was happy to see the officers however, he was terrified of the clippers.
One of the officers made the child a deal. If the officer allowed the child to cut his hair would the child allow the barber to cut his?
So now we have another bald New Castle County Police Officer and a happy child.
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