On Wednesday, March 25, 2020, 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 reports of a robbery in progress involving a machete.
When the officers arrived, they observed a subject that matched the description of the suspect, later identified as 22-year-old, Julio Ramirez, fleeing and gave chase. After a brief foot pursuit, the officers were able to apprehend the suspect as he ran into an apartment, according to officials.
As the officers placed the subject into custody, a search of the apartment was conducted. During the search officers found a five-year-old boy sitting on the bed in a back bedroom. The boy had a bloody t-shirt on and had suffered lacerations to his lip, according to police. The child was immediately transported to a local hospital for an evaluation. During the initial search, officials said they also located 180 grams of marijuana.
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.
Officials said the detectives’ 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, officials said Friday. Upon initial contact with the child, it was clear to investigators that his hair had been cut abnormally.
On Thursday, officers, medical staff and a local barber met with the 5-year-old victim and offered to cut the child’s hair. The child was happy to see the officers, however, he was terrified of the clippers. 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,” said a spokesman for the New Castle County Police.
Through their investigation, officers determined that the initial robbery was unfounded.
Ramirez 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.
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).