Avenal man tried to hire someone to kill an officer, police say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Police say a convicted drug dealer is once again in trouble. This time. They say he was planning to kill the Avenal police officer who helped put him back behind bars.

Victor Hugo Ramos was already in jail on drug charges. Tonight, he faces felony charges that could keep him locked up for two decades after investigators say he tried to hire someone to kill an Avenal police officer.

When officers finally caught up with Victor Hugo Ramos, investigators say he had close to $17,000 worth of meth and cocaine on him. He was a wanted man for weeks until a female officer spotted him and initiated a pursuit that ended with him in jail.

An Avenal police officer is returning to work Thursday night, after being off for two weeks due to safety concerns. This after the Avenal police chief says Victor Hugo Ramos was trying to hire someone to kill the female officer and another citizen.

Avenal Police Chief Jack Amoroso said, "We were able to gain intelligence from the gang task force that led us to believe this was a credible threat."

Investigators say Ramos was working to set up a hitman when he was already behind bars. Offering $10,000 up front and $10,000 after the murders were complete.

Chief Jack Amoroso added, "He made multiple efforts to recruit someone to carry out the act, as well as discussing payment and made a phone call to the person."

Action News has learned one of the phone calls he made soliciting a good person for the job, was to an undercover police officer. Investigators believe Ramos was arranging the murder because he was furious with the officer who first spotted him and started the pursuit that led to his arrest.

The police chief says the 26-year-old is a well-known drug dealer in Avenal with a criminal history of narcotics arrests. During a search warrant in August, officers also found a stolen gun at his home.

Ramos is facing drug charges but could spend up to 18 additional years in prison, if he is convicted of soliciting the murder of a police officer.