Lynn man guilty in chop shop case

LYNN – One of two men charged in connection with an April 2007 chop shop raid on Gardiner Street was found guilty by a Salem Superior Court jury Thursday.Alejandro Ramos, 26, 65 Gardiner St., was found guilty of receiving a stolen car and was sentenced to 12-15 years in state prison. This represents his sixth conviction for receiving a stolen car.Ramos’ co-defendent, Warlin Santiago, 25, of 371 Boston St., was acquitted of receiving a stolen car and a stolen check.The trial lasted one week and the jury deliberated for about three hours, Essex District Attorney spokesman Steve O’Connell said.Ramos and Santiago were arrested with four other people on April 8, 2007 after police raided what they described as an illegal automobile “chop shop” on Gardiner, a West Lynn residential street. As police converged on 65 Gardiner, they found a stolen Honda Civic largely stripped of parts inside the resident’s garage and detailed three men who ran from the garage.The three told police Ramos, who police subsequently described as “a suspect in several stolen motor vehicle cases,” was in the house and was armed with two pit bulls.Police located and removed one of the dogs, but a second dog attacked Officer Michael O’Connell. Officer Michael Kenny fired a shotgun in an effort to stop the attack and some of the shotgun pellets struck O’Connell’s left foot.O’Connell required several surgeries to his foot. The dog was killed.During Ramos’ initial court appearance on April 9, Assistant District Attorney Meaghan Riordan said Ramos had five open court cases and had defaulted 17 times on court appearances. The attorney appointed to represent Ramos at that court appearance said Ramos was sleeping at the time of the police raid.Ramos and Santiago were represented by attorneys Eric Jarosz and Randi Potash, respectively.