SDC Sheriff's Deputy Arrested

26 minutes ago

2 min read

Located in Santee, the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility (LCDRF) serves as the primary point of intake for incarcerated females in San Diego County. — Located in Santee, the ***Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility*** (LCDRF) serves as the primary point of intake for incarcerated females in San Diego County.

A San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy has been arrested on suspicion of engaging in a sexual relationship with an incarcerated person.

A Sheriff's employee brought forward concerns that inappropriate actions might be occurring between a deputy and an incarcerated person at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility. The Sheriff's Sexual Assault Unit immediately began to investigate the allegations.

In the meantime, the deputy involved was placed on administrative assignment and removed from any responsibility of overseeing incarcerated persons.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the Sheriff's Office turned the case over to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office for prosecution. An arrest warrant was issued for the deputy's arrest.

On Tuesday, November 10, Deputy Ricky Garcia (37) was taken into custody and booked into the Vista Detention Facility on multiple charges of 289.6 (a)PC – Sexual Activity with Person Confined in Detention Facility. He was immediately placed on unpaid leave. Garcia was hired by the Sheriff's Office on March 2, 2018. His most recent assignment was at the San Diego Central Jail.

At this time, this appears to be an isolated incident.

"The allegations against Deputy Garcia are abhorrent and represent a violation of public trust. People in the custody of the Sheriff's Office are among the most vulnerable and their rights must be protected. We will not tolerate criminal behavior in our ranks and will hold employees accountable for their actions. I appreciate the hard work of the investigators on this case and their integrity in investigating wrong doing by a fellow deputy."—San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office is committed to holding its employees to a high standard. Acts such as this do not reflect our values, principles, or commitment to our communities. We take these obligations seriously and strive to be a trusted law enforcement organization.

For any further questions about this case, please contact the San Diego County District Attorney's Office.