OH- Sheriff: Woman admits concocting rape story vs. Shelby cop

10-9-2009 Ohio:

SHELBY — A woman claiming she was sexually assaulted by a Shelby police officer has confessed to concocting the rape allegations, authorities reported Thursday morning.

Already charged with felony escape, Samantha Ramirez is facing criminal charges for making false allegations stemming from her jumping from a police cruiser on Monday, according to a statement from Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon and Shelby police Chief Charles Roub Jr.

Authorities say the 19-year-old Shelby woman bolted from Officer John Guisinger’s cruiser as he was driving her to the county jail via MedCentral/Shelby Hospital after her appearance Monday in Shelby Municipal Court. There on charges of falsification and resisting arrest, Ramirez apparently lost consciousness in the courtroom.

Having dodged a search by local, county, state and federal authorities, Ramirez turned up Monday night at Ashland Samaritan Hospital. It was there, according to the Richland County sheriff, that Ramirez leveled the rape accusation against Guisinger.

Roub said Thursday that an emergency vehicle transported Ramirez, accompanied by a U.S. Marshal, from Ashland to MedCentral/Mansfield Hospital, where she underwent a forensic examination before being transferred to Richland County Jail.

On Wednesday, still incarcerated, Ramirez was said to have confessed to Sheriff’s Sgt. John Nicholson that she made up the rape story.

The Richland County Sheriff's Office has been investigating Ramirez’s allegation of sexual assault, while Shelby Police Department launched an internal probe.

According to the press release, Guisinger failed to handcuff the woman, who had been wrapped in a blanket and saying she was sick.

“Although the cruiser’s door latches are disabled from the rear interior, the window switches are not. A master window lockout switch was not engaged on the driver’s door, allowing the rear windows to be operated from the rear,” the joint statement said. “Windows must be able to open for safety and operator/passenger comfort and are therefore not completely disabled.”

Several eyewitnesses reported Ramirez simply rolled down the window, opened the door using the outside door handle and jumped out as the cruiser slowed for a school zone. After her exit, Ramirez sprinted into a cornfield before Guisinger could stop and get out of the car.

Guisinger, who Roub said did not follow departmental procedure regarding the transport of prisoners, faces internal disciplinary action.

Authorities said Guisinger voluntarily underwent a forensic exam in an effort to disprove Ramirez’s assault allegation.

Charges are expected to be filed against Ramirez in the matter, pending the outcome of discussions between the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office and the Shelby’s law director. She remains in jail on $500,000 bond.

Charges also are pending against several others suspected of involvement in the case.

According to Sheldon’s and Roub’s joint press release Thursday, after fleeing Guisinger’s squad car, Ramirez got a ride to Shelby from a yet unidentified woman; from there, investigators have determined, a family member gave her a ride to Ashland. ..Source.. by