NEWS RELEASE

RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT

31 Riverside Road
Riverside, Illinois 60546

February 11, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Chief Tom Weitzel

708 447 2127 tweitzel@riverside.il.us

Riverside Police Issue Arrest Warrant for Burglary/Theft Suspect

After He Commits Arson in Wisconsin
Riverside Police have named the suspect publicly and have served an arrest warrant for offender
On Monday, January 26, 2015 at 11:20 a.m., the Riverside Police Department received a call of a
burglary/theft that had taken place at a residence on the 300 block of Nuttall Road. When the victim
was interviewed, he stated that he had an estranged cousin staying with him from out of state and after
he left the residence, several items were missing including jewelry, a diamond ring, an iPad Mini and
several other pieces of electronic equipment. Riverside Police were informed that the defendant had
fled the state and may possibly be in Wisconsin.
Over the next several weeks Riverside investigators were able to track the stolen property to a pawn
shop located on the 6300 block of West North Avenue in Oak Park. Investigators were able to recover
some of the property, obtained video surveillance from the pawn shop and written documentations of
the transaction. Additionally, investigators interviewed store personnel who were able to add additional
statements as to who the offender was in the theft.
On Friday, February 6, 2015, the Riverside Police Department obtained a felony theft warrant for the
defendant. A warrant has been issued in the amount of $50,000.00 and is presently active. Over the
last week, investigators have learned that the defendant fled to Oxford, Wisconsin and was arrested
and may have been in the custody of the Adams County Sheriff's Police. Riverside detectives working
with the Adams County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin were able to locate the suspect who is presently
being held in custody in Adams County. The defendant, Shawn A. Ramirez, 21 of Oxford, Wisconsin
was served with the Riverside warrant by the Adams County Sheriff's Police. Riverside investigators
were worried that the defendant may post bond and flee before the Riverside warrant could be served.
Mr. Ramirez is currently being held in the Adams County Sheriff's Department for an incident that took
place in Jackson, Wisconsin in which he burglarized and set fire to a home in Jackson. Mr. Ramirez
was charged by the Adams County Sheriffs Department with burglary and arson, however, his bond

was only set at $500.00 cash. Riverside Police have now placed a hold on Mr. Ramirez and he will be
returned back to Riverside once he clears the charges in Wisconsin.
Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel stated, I instructed my detectives to act quickly and obtain a
warrant as the victim in the Riverside case had thousands of dollars in jewelry, electronic equipment
and cash stolen from their residence. The theft is significant. I wanted to ensure that defendant would
not bond out of the Adams County Detention Center in Wisconsin and then flee before Riverside
investigators could apprehend Mr. Ramirez.
Named in the warrant, which has been made public and served on Friday, February 6th, 2015, is
Shawn A. Ramirez, 21 of the 200 block of Indian Mound Street in Oxford, Wisconsin.
Once Mr. Ramirez is remanded into custody back in Riverside, additional information will be released.

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