Crime & Safety
Police Officer Accused of Raping Cousin in Palm Desert
The Indio officer is on administrative leave.
An Indio police officer is slated to be arraigned next month on rape and other felony charges for allegedly raping his young cousin at his Palm Desert home.
Sergio Ramirez, 34, is charged with rape by force or fear, oral copulation by force or violence and forcible sexual penetration. He is slated to make his initial court appearance at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on Oct. 14.
According to a Riverside County sheriff's investigator's declaration in support of an arrest warrant, the 18-year-old victim identified as "V-1" was staying at Ramirez's house starting in June, and planned to remain at the home until Aug. 8, when she was going to move away for college.
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However, on Aug. 6, the victim said Ramirez came into her room in the early morning hours while she was asleep and laid down next to her.
She "felt uncomfortable," moved to another room, and fell asleep on a couch, but woke again to Ramirez sexually assaulting her.
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The declaration states that "she could not believe he was doing this because he has been such a positive role model for her and he is a police officer. She viewed him as a father figure."
Following the assault, she fled to a friend's home and then went to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, where she underwent a sexual assault examination.
Sheriff's deputies say that Ramirez asked his wife through text messages to lie to police and ask that the cousin not undergo the sexual assault examination at the hospital. The declaration also states that Ramirez's wife washed the clothes that the victim was wearing during the sexual assault.
A second sheriff's investigator declaration for an arrest warrant states that "family members have already attempted to dissuade the victim from moving forward with the case" and expressed concern for the victim's safety, as Ramirez knew where she lived and deputies were unable to locate one of Ramirez's firearms.
Ramirez was arrested Aug. 31 in Indio, but was released the following day on $85,000 bail.
Indio Police Sgt. Daniel Marshall said the department could not comment on the case outside of confirming Ramirez is an IPD officer and that he has been placed on administrative leave.
– By City News Service / Image via Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
