Man charged in alleged Cathedral City apartment laundry burglary

Felony burglary and vandalism charges were filed Monday against a probationer accused of barricading himself inside the laundry room of a Cathedral City apartment complex after trying to use a crowbar to force open several coin-operated laundry machines.

Brian Ramirez, 28, of Cathedral City, also faces misdemeanor charges of possession of burglary tools and contributing to the delinquency of a minor for allegedly using an underage girl as a lookout while he broke into the machines in the 68600 block of Corral Road.

Ramirez, who’s being held on $100,000 bail, pleaded not guilty and will return to court Oct. 25 for a felony settlement conference.

At 1:35 a.m. last Thursday, officers arrived to find Ramirez locked inside the laundry room and refusing to come out, according to Cathedral City police Cmdr. Julio Luna. Officers eventually forced the door open and arrested him and also took the underage girl into custody, Luna said.

Ramirez allegedly admitted to Thursday’s crime, as well as previous burglaries at the complex, he said.

A search of the suspect’s car, which was also found near the complex, yielded drugs and stolen property, including “miscellaneous tools and construction equipment,” according to Luna.

Ramirez was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, while the girl was arrested on suspicion of burglary and later released to a parent, the commander said.

Police say Ramirez had three active warrants for his arrest at the time of the burglary — two burglary and one for possession of stolen property.

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