WORTHINGTON — Olivmer Perez-Ramirez, of Worthington, has been charged with third-degree felony assault for allegedly inflicting substantial bodily harm. Perez-Ramirez, 18, also faces a felony-level count for threats of violence with intent to terrorize.
On Jan. 1, law enforcement officers responded to a Worthington residence after receiving a report of a disorderly male with a knife. Upon arrival, a Worthington police officer was told by the reporting party that the male — later identified as Perez-Ramirez — was in the basement with the victim.
Through a window the officer observed the victim in the basement but was unable to see Perez-Ramirez. The reporting party stated Perez-Ramirez was in a basement bedroom with two children. Officers entered the basement and through another window reportedly observed two juveniles lying on a bed in the basement bedroom. Perez-Ramirez was on the floor in front of juveniles and appeared to be unconscious.
The door was kicked open by officers, but Perez-Ramirez did not move. Officers observed a USB charging cable wrapped around Perez-Ramirez’s neck and saw that he was not breathing. Officers were eventually able to get Perez-Ramirez to regain consciousness and one officer observed scratches on Perez-Ramirez’s chest area.
Perez-Ramirez was transported to the Sanford emergency department for evaluation. A knife was located in the wall near the window, holding the curtain open. Officers also observed a clump of hair, similar to the victim’s, on the floor.
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Upon speaking with officers the victim stated that Perez-Ramirez had reportedly come over from a friend’s house and was “really drunk”. Perez-Ramirez came downstairs and pulled the victim's hair. According to the report, Perez-Ramirez then hit the victim twice, at which point the victim lost consciousness. After, Perez-Ramirez allegedly locked himself in the bedroom with the children and attempted to kill himself with the cord and knife.
The reporting party told officers that he had heard the victim screaming and went downstairs, at which the reporting party attested to seeing Perez-Ramirez in the bedroom with a knife in hand. The children were asleep in the bed. According to the reporting party, the victim threatened to call the police, and Perez-Ramirez said he would harm the children if the victim did.
Perez-Ramirez was placed under arrest after being released from the hospital by medical staff. At the jail Perez-Ramirez agreed to speak with an officer. He stated that he went home after drinking and initially said that he did not remember anything after returning home. Perez-Ramirez said he didn’t know why the reporting party called the police, and that he and the victim had argued when he arrived home. Perez-Ramirez claimed that the victim had scratched him, which was how he got the marks on his neck.
Perez-Ramirez also stated that he tried to leave the bedroom but the door was locked. He then fell asleep, and claimed that the victim wrapped the cord around his neck. When asked how the victim's hair ended up on the floor Perez-Ramirez said that he never pulled the victim's hair and that the reporting party made that up. Perez-Ramirez said that he never had a knife during the incident
If convicted, Perez-Ramirez faces a maximum of five years in prison and/or $10,000 fine for both the threats of violence and the assault charges. Perez-Ramirez was released after paying the $5,000 bail and his initial court appearance has been set for Jan. 18.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else; for assistance, call 1-800-273-8255.
