Police: Man exposed self to children in Glen Cove supermarket

A 43-year-old store clerk was arrested Tuesday on charges of sexual abuse and child endangerment after police said he exposed himself to two girls in a Glen Cove supermarket last month, forcing one to touch him while their mother shopped in a nearby aisle.

Edward Ramirez, of 8 Hazel St., Glen Cove, was charged with first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child after a joint investigation by the Glen Cove Police Department's Detective Division and detectives from the Nassau County police Special Victims Squad.

Police said the incident occurred at the Stop & Shop supermarket on Forest Avenue in Glen Cove at about 7 p.m. on Nov. 24. Police said the two girls, 5 and 7, were in an aisle adjacent to where their mother was shopping when Ramirez, who was employed as a clerk in the store, exposed himself to the 7-year-old "while looking directly at her." Nassau police said the girl "ran to tell her mother what had happened."

Police also said that after the 7-year-old ran to her mother, Ramirez exposed himself to the 5-year-old -- then "forced her to touch him." Police said the 5-year-old then ran to tell her mother.

Glen Cove police spokesman Det. Lt. John Nagle said Wednesday that the incident was not immediately reported to police.

Nassau police said the complaint was filed by the mother about 41/2 hours after the incident.

Ramirez also once worked as a seasonal parks department laborer for the City of Glen Cove, according to records and police.

Investigators are asking that anyone who believes their child may have been similarly victimized to call Glen Cove City police at 516-676-1000 or the Nassau police Special Victims Squad at 516-573-4022.

Ramirez is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead.

It is not clear if Ramirez is represented by counsel.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”