Tampa man, 59, charged after exposing self to children

TAMPA -- Police say they arrested a known sex offender after two girls say he masturbated in front of them outside a grocery store Sunday.

Police said Fermin Martinez-Ramos, 59 (left), 2701 N Armenia Ave., was "openly masturbating" in front of two girls, ages 4 and 9, in front of the Main Street Grocery Store at 1724 W Main St. about 9:30 p.m.

Martinez-Ramos ran away, only to be caught a few blocks away after the girls identified him to investigators.

Tampa Police say they've arrested Martinez-Ramos once in the past for a similar incident and twice for failing to report his change of address.

Jail records show Martinez-Ramos was charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious exhibition toward a victim under 16 and one count of violating probation for failing to report as a sex offender. Bail was not set.

-- Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Photo courtesy Hillsborough County Sheriff' Office