Two men, one an
officer with the Yuma Police Department, have been arrested on suspicion of
luring a teen girl for sex.
Joshua Jonathan Alpizar, 27, was arrested by deputies with
the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday and is being held on charges
including luring a minor for sexual exploitation, sexual exploitation of a
minor and sexual conduct with a minor.
Ron Anton Ciancimino, 25, was arrested by deputies on
Friday. He faces possible charges including luring a minor for sexual
exploitation and sexual exploitation of a minor.
Ciancimino, who has been employed by YPD as a patrol officer
since May 2011, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of
the investigation.
“The Yuma Police Department is working closely with the Yuma
County Sheriff’s Office providing assistance as requested and will continue to
do so throughout their investigation,” YPD officials stated Friday evening.
On Tuesday, YCSO deputies were sent to Yuma Regional Medical
Center after receiving reports a 16-year-old girl at the hospital had been the
victim of a possible sexual offense. The deputies met with the victim and
learned Alpizar and Ciancimino were potentially involved.
On Thursday, YCSO investigators contacted Alpizar at his
residence in the 3000 block of West 8th Street. Alpizar reportedly admitted to
the allegations and was arrested.
On Friday, with the assistance of YPD, YCSO investigators
contacted Ciancimino at the police department and transported him to YCSO
facilities for questioning. He was arrested and booked into jail at about 5:30
p.m.
No additional details about the alleged incident with the
victim was available as of press time Friday because the YCSO Criminal
Investigations Bureau is conducting an active investigation.