San Francisco Police Nab Suspect in Three Killings After He Forgets Phone at Crime Scene, Calls Himself

PINOLE, Calif. – A suspect in three Bay Area killings is in custody after police found the man's cell phone at the scene of a recent house burglary.

Pinole police were investigating the burglary when Anthony Ramirez called his own cell phone, not realizing he had dropped it at a crime scene. He was arrested last week after making arrangements to meet an undercover officer to retrieve the phone.

Police had sought the 23-year-old for slayings in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

Ramirez is accused in the Sept. 28 shooting death of his 17-year-old half-brother that family members say was an accident. He's also a suspect in the beating death of a man during a botched robbery on April 5 in El Sobrante.

Officials say Ramirez will face charges first in Alameda County, where he's accused of fatally shooting an Emeryville man on April 20.