A local diving coach has been arrested on multiple counts of child seduction and sexual misconduct.
Following an interview with investigators Sunday, Ramirez Suarez was taken into custody Tuesday. (Photo provided)
On, Tuesday, Nov. 28, the Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force arrested Johel E. Ramirez Suarez, 34, Noblesville on five counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, each a Level 5 felony; five counts of child seduction, each a Level 6 felony; and 27 counts of battery, each a Class B misdemeanor.
Ramirez was the assistant dive coach for North Central High School and a dive coach at Ripfest Diving in Arcadia. The investigation led to a juvenile female who was training RipFest. The juvenile alleged that Ramirez Suarez, a coach for the organization, touched her inappropriately on more than one occasion.
Investigators believe the sexual misconduct began in September of 2015 and lasted right before his arrest on Tuesday.
With his hands handcuffed behind his back, police escorted Ramirez into the Hamilton County Jail on Tuesday. Although Ramirez was a dive coach for North Central, that is not where the allegations stemmed from. Most come from Ripfest Diving.
It’s uncertain how long Ramirez was a coach there. But, police say they began investigating two weeks ago after a 16-year old confided in a former member of the school. The juvenile told police that Ramirez rubbed her vaginal area while stretching and massaging her. According to court documents, it began when she was just 15 years old and happened more times than she could count.
Further investigation led to two adult females who alleged similar behavior by the coach while they were at the facility used by RipFest.
Washington Township Schools released the following statement after learning of the arrest:
“Washington Township Schools received information from Hamilton County Law Enforcement that our assistant diving coach, Johel Ramirez, has allegations levied against him of improper conduct through a swim club he is associated with in Arcadia, IN. Immediately upon receiving this information, Washington Township placed him on administrative leave from his assistant diving coaching position at North Central High School pending further investigation. We do not have any reports or information that any students in Washington Township are involved in this alleged misconduct.”
Ripfest also released the following statement after the arrest:
“When we were made aware of allegations against one of our coaches, we immediately removed him from our program and instructed him not to return to our facility pending the outcome of the investigation. In light of recent developments, we have terminated him immediately. We have cooperated fully with law enforcement and we will continue to do so. RipFest Diving is committed to providing the highest quality training for our diving students in an extremely professional and safe environment.”
Ramirez Suarez was taken into custody following an interview at his Noblesville home Sunday. He is currently being held at the Hamilton County Jail.
The investigation was conducted in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations. Additional investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information should contact the Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force.
WISH-TV 24-Hour News 8 contributed to this story.