Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
- Burglary/Pawn Unit
Detention and Corrections Bureau
RAD PRO SecurPass Whole Body X-Ray Scanner
Joseph Bravo Ramos (Arrested)
DOB: 12/16/1992
Address: 2225 Nursery Road, Bldg. 40, Apt. 203, Clearwater
Charges: 1 count of Burglary and 1 count of Tampering with Physical Evidence
What:
Detectives assigned to the Burglary/Pawn Unit have charged a Clearwater man in connection to a home burglary after evidence was revealed in a SecurPass X-Ray.
When:
The burglary occurred on Tuesday, December 10, 2013. The suspect was initially arrested by Clearwater Police Department on Wednesday, December 11, 2013. The evidence was found that evening when the suspect was being processed into the jail.
Where:
The burglary occurred at private residence in Safety Harbor.
Why/How:
Detectives assigned to the Burglary/Pawn Unit have charged a Clearwater man in connection with a home burglary after the evidence was revealed in a SecurPass X-Ray. The burglary occurred on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at a private residence in Safety Harbor. Various items were taken including the victim’s vehicle.
On Wednesday, December 11, 2013, Clearwater Police Department transported a suspect to the Pinellas County Jail on charges of Grand Theft after learning the vehicle the suspect was driving had been stolen during the burglary in Safety Harbor.
According to detectives, during the booking process, the suspect was asked to step on to the SecurPass Scanner. During the scan, the x-ray photo revealed a large dark mass near the suspect’s stomach area. Upon further investigation, the object was identified as necklaces that the suspect had swallowed prior to entering the jail. Based on this information, the suspect was transported to a local hospital and underwent surgery to remove the two necklaces from the suspect’s stomach. Once the necklaces were removed, detectives took the necklaces to the victim who positively identified them as her own.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s detectives have charged the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Joseph Bravo Ramos, with 1 count of Burglary and 1 count of Tampering with Physical Evidence. Bravo Ramos remains in the Pinellas County Jail at this time.
The investigation continues.
Attached are photos of the suspect and the X-ray.
The RAD PRO SecurPass Whole Body X-Ray Scanner was installed in the Pinellas County Jail in June of 2013. The SecurPass is an additional state of the art security tool specifically designed for contraband detection. The purpose of Secure Pass is to prevent contraband from entering the jail and to keep the facility secure.
The system can detect metals, pills, plastics, drugs, and other unusually shaped items that may be concealed on the inmate’s person.
For further information on the RAD PRO SecurPass Whole Body X-Ray Scanner, please see news release 13-151. Here is link to that news release: http://www.pcsoweb.com/news-release/13-151-sheriff-gualtieri-unveils-new-securpass-scanner-at-pinellas-county-jail/
SecurPass X-Ray
Joseph Bravo Ramos Booking Photo