Man, 36, Arrested For Allegedly Raping Woman In 'Spiritual Cleansing'
SANTA ANA (CBS) — Police arrested a 36-year-old San Clemente man Tuesday on suspicion of raping a woman in a bizarre "spiritual cleansing" ritual in a Santa Ana motel room.
Alberto Flores-Ramirez was arrested yesterday afternoon during a police sting, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
Flores-Ramirez thought he was meeting with the alleged victim a second time, Bertagna said.
Flores-Ramirez and the 33-year-old Simi Valley woman became acquainted on the social-networking site called Badoo, according to Bertagna.
The woman told Flores-Ramirez that she was hoping to bring her two young children to the United States from Mexico, and he said he could help her if she underwent a "spiritual cleansing" ritual, Bertagna said.
The two met at a Santa Ana restaurant about 6 p.m. on April 3, Bertagna said. About 45 minutes later, they allegedly went to the Aloha Motel. There he began the "ritual" that involved her lying on a bed and him cracking raw eggs in a glass.
Flores-Ramirez allegedly told the woman she had a lot of evil spirits and he had to perform the ceremony a second time. He told her the second time she would have take her clothes off, Bertagna said.
The woman was uncomfortable with the request, but eventually agreed to strip down to her underwear, Bertagna said.
Flores-Ramirez put an egg in his mouth and when he got close to her genitals, she got scared and told him to stop, leading him to choke, threaten and rape her, Bertagna said.
The woman, whose name was withheld, went to police and reported the alleged rape, Bertagna said. Flores-Ramirez kept in touch with her via text messages and agreed to meet her at a discount store, where police were waiting to arrest him, Bertagna said.
Flores-Ramirez was being held in the Santa Ana jail in lieu of $100,000 bail, and also has an immigration hold, Bertagna said.
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