DOWNEY - Downey Police arrested 38-year-old Luis Jose Ramirez, of Hollywood, on Sept. 1 after he arranged to have sex with a 13-year-old girl, authorities announced this week.The girl and her father visited the Home Depot in Downey on Aug. 29 at about 8:15 p.m. The father went inside to look for a sales associate while the girl waited outside. Ramirez allegedly drove up in a white pick-up truck and struck up a conversation with the girl, eventually asking for and receiving her phone number. Ramirez called the girl at home the next day, according to a press release from Downey Police. On Sept. 1, Downey detectives used a decoy to call Ramirez back. During the conversation, Ramirez said he would drive to Downey and rent a hotel room "because he wanted to have sex with her," authorities said. While under police surveillance, Ramirez allegedly rented a hotel room in Downey and then called the decoy and told her what room to meet him in. Detectives entered the room and took Ramirez into custody. He was booked for attempted lewd and lascivious acts upon a minor and transported to Los Angeles County Jail. The District Attorney's Office has filed one felony count on Ramirez for contact of a minor with the intent to commit a sexual offense.

********** Published: September 22, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 23