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Lost Cell Phone Leads to Dumb Suspected Killer's Arrest

by Caleb Johnson on June 4, 2009 at 07:10 AM

Some folks just can't do without their cell phones. You know them -- the ones whose phones are practically surgically attached to their bodies. In the case of Anthony Ramirez, maybe he should have left well enough alone.

On May 22nd, Ramirez, 23, left his phone while fleeing the scene of an attempted home burglary in Pinole, California. Instead of cutting his losses, Ramirez called the phone, which was discovered by officer Uri Nieves, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. The officer told Ramirez he was an average citizen who found the phone on the street and arranged an exchange at a local Boys and Girls club. To top it all off, Ramirez drove to the exchange in a stolen Nissan 350Z with a sawed-off .30-30. Ramirez wrecked the car and escaped after officers tried to block the car's path.

Although he escaped, officers were still able to identify him, and accordingly learned that Ramirez was wanted in nearby Emeryville for an April 2008 shooting death, which took place during another home-invasion robbery. Pinole police gave the cell phone to Emeryville officers, who used it to contact Ramirez once again.

Proving his utter lack of intelligence, Ramirez arranged yet another exchange, unwittingly of course with Emeryville police. Before the exchange could happen, police found Ramirez outside a home in Pinole. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Ramirez was texting officers to arrange an exchange as they encircled him. Police arrested Ramirez on May 27th. He is a suspect in three slayings in the Bay Area.

It looks like Ramirez finally learned that technology can be a double-edged sword. We wonder how he will do without his cell phone in prison, and if his final request will be to send one more text message. [From the San Francisco Chronicle, via Seattle PI]

Tags: cellphone, criminal, dumbcriminal, murder, police, texting

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