Ex-school officer accused of robbery, retaliation

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A former North Forest ISD police officer is in the Harris County Jail, held without bond. He's accused of using his position of authority to rob someone, and police say it's possible there are still other victims out there.

Rickey Ridley was in a courtroom Friday morning, facing a charge of aggravated assault for the second time this week and facing a charge of retaliation.

Prosecutor Michele Oncken said, "It's similar to the first case where the crime is committed in uniform.'

According to court documents, the former North Forest ISD police officer targeted the same victim each time, first, according to charging documents, on January 14.

That's when another man, Lionel Dixon, is accused of luring the victim to an apartment complex at 830 Victoria, by agreeing to sell some used barber equipment. The charging document says Dixon told the victim the equipment was in a garage a few blocks away, so the victim got into a car with Dixon.

According to the document, "a silver car pulled out in front of him and a co-defendant, later identified as Rickey Ridley, dressed in a police uniform approached complainant and pointed a black, semi-automatic gun..."

Ridley is accused of making off with $10,500. He was charged on Monday.

Now he's accused in more incidents with the same victim -- first, at the victim's home where he's accused of stealing $2,500 and again a week later, when the victim tracked Ridley down.

"The victim was threatened that if he contacted the police that the defendant would actually put a false charge of possessing drugs," Oncken said.

North Forest ISD says Ridley has been terminated and in a statement, a spokeswoman said, "At the time the crimes with which Mr. Ridley is charged occurred, he was not on active duty with NFISD police; he was out on worker's comp."

Dixon is still at large, and the investigation is not over.

Oncken said, "They're still investigating, trying to figure out if there are any other victims out there."

Ridley could be facing life in prison if he's convicted.

North Forest ISD said Ridley was hired in March 2010 and had no other disciplinary issues on his record. The district also says Ridley had Precinct 6 deputy constable uniforms. Precinct 6 says he was once a reserve deputy, but is no longer associated with them.
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