UNION CITY — An officer’s diligent investigative work led to the arrest of a suspect in five recent indecent-exposure cases, and police say more victims could come forward.
In a statement Tuesday, police said the five incidents occurred when a man stopped women walking near Veterans Park at Dyer Street and Regents Boulevard to ask for directions. In each case, the man then exposed himself before masturbating briefly and walking away to a vehicle.
In previous incidents going back to November 2018, the women were able to provide police with descriptions of the man and his gray truck, described as either a Chevrolet Avalanche or a Honda Ridgeline.
But in the fifth incident around 10:20 a.m. Dec. 31, 2018, the woman saw the man get into a white Honda Civic and managed to note its license plate.
That led investigators to a home in the 32500 block of Christine Drive, where officers served arrest and search warrants just after 8 p.m. Jan. 2 and arrested John Ramos, 37.
Union City police Det. Steve Mendes credited Officer Roberta Leal, a former sex-crimes investigator, for her efforts on the cases.
“She took almost all these calls and kind of pieced it together, and last she got the missing piece,” Mendez said. “She was able to combine all of these details provided by the victims. She did a great job on this one.”
Ramos, who was arraigned Monday, is not currently in custody, police said.
Police said they believe other women could continue to come forward, and ask anyone who recognizes the suspect and thinks they may be a victim to contact Officer Leal at 510-458-3703 or e-mail robertap@unioncity.org.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.