Brick Police Arrest Louisiana Contractor on Fugitive Charge

Brick police arrested a Louisiana man who runs a house elevation business on a no-bail fugitive warrant out of his home state.

Ramon O. Santos, 44, is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending extradition, Sgt. Henry Drew said Tuesday.

The larceny/theft complaint was filed by the New Orleans Police Department, Drew said.

Police caught up to Santos, who owns a construction and home elevation business, according to public records, after Officer Thomas Caulfield pulled him over for a cell phone violation while he was driving near the intersection of Route 35 and Bay Avenue at about 2 p.m. Monday, Drew said.

"Santos stated that he was employed by a construction company which was based out of Louisiana," said Drew.

An article in the Louisiana Record from June reported that Santo owns Rendon Construction LLC, and is currently being sued by a woman whose house his company was elevating. According to the report, the plaintiff is alleging she tripped and fell off a temporary staircase near a hazardous doorway that was not properly marked.

Drew said the Brick police department is advising all citizens in the aftermath of Sandy "to please be diligent in checking the references of people you hire to do work in your home."

"As always if you feel that you may have been taken advantage of by someone that you have hired to do work please contact the Brick Township Police Department at 732-262-1100, or your local police department" he said.