Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested in Slayings of 3 Prostitutes

A veteran sheriff’s narcotics officer was arrested for investigation of the murders of three prostitutes after being stopped while allegedly sharing cocaine with a street walker in his car, authorities said Friday.

Deputy Rickey Ross, 40, an 18-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, was picked up at 1:30 a.m. Thursday by police officers patrolling the South-Central area, police Chief Daryl Gates said.

A loaded gun found in the trunk of the county-leased, unmarked car Ross was driving was linked through ballistics tests to three 1988 murders, Gates and Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block told a press conference.

The gun was not Ross’ department-issued weapon, Block said. Gates would not identify the gun or its caliber.

The South-Central area has been the scene of numerous prostitute slayings since the late 1970s, including some once attributed to a “Southside Slayer” but later thought to be several suspects.

Gates said the investigation of Ross was continuing but he would not comment on any possible connection to unsolved South-Central killings and the three murders linked to Ross.

“There are some differences with other homicides in the South-Central portion of Los Angeles, so this could be three and only three and we’re not speculating that there will be any more than this,” Gates said.

The deputy was “absolutely not” a suspect before his arrest, Gates said.

The district attorney’s office was reviewing the evidence on Ross, and a decision on charges will be made Monday, said spokesman Andy Reynolds.

“This has been and is a very sad day for Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” Block said.

Block said Ross, who is married and has two children, ages 20 and 5, had been assigned to a narcotics unit at Los Angeles International Airport.

“He has a very fine record,” Block said. “He has been a very effective investigator in the narcotics bureau.”

Local Reaction

“I am saddened that the person arrested, who seems to be the murderer, is in law enforcement. But I’m glad that the suspect is off the streets,” said City Councilman Robert Farrell, whose district encompasses much of the area.

Margaret Prescod, head of the Black Coalition Fighting Back Serial Murders, a local group infuriated because information about the latest killings was not released earlier, said she was not ready to trust Gates.

“All of this really points to a vagueness of information. The Police Department still hasn’t come clean as to what’s going on. How connected are these murders? Do they suspect only one murderer or are there other murderers? We don’t want them parading a scapegoat in front of us,” she said.

Ross’ car was parked near the Harbor Freeway and Gage Avenue about midnight Wednesday when officers on routine patrol spotted it. As they approached, it moved erratically away from the curb so the officers stopped it, Gates said.

Arrested om DUI Charge

The officers originally arrested Ross for investigation of driving under the influence of an intoxicating substance. Gates said the woman told investigators they had been smoking cocaine.

As ballistics testing of the gun found in the trunk was performed, Ross and investigators went to his Rialto home. About 5 p.m. Thursday, tests linked the gun to the three killings and he was arrested.

A search warrant was obtained and the home was searched but Gates would not reveal any information about what was recovered there.

Gates said the woman in the car had no indication that Ross was a deputy. The car itself was an unmarked blue Ford Tempo.

Name Withheld

“He did not stop her using his badge,” Gates said. “He only identified himself after the officers stopped him.”

The name of the woman in the car with Ross was withheld. Gates said officers determined that she was a prostitute but he was reluctant to characterize her as a “strawberry,” a prostitute who trades sex for drugs.

“There’s indication that they were smoking cocaine but whether to designate her as that, I really don’t know,” Gates said.

The woman told officers that she had become frightened because Ross had “wanted to go to the trunk of his vehicle,” Gates said.

The chief said that frightened her because detectives on the murder cases had blanketed the area and potential victims with information.

Earlier Victims

The three murder victims were identified as Judith Simpson, 27, who was found dead Oct. 14 at 88th and San Pedro streets; Cynthia Walker, 35, found Nov. 18 at Flower and 46th streets; and Latanya Johnson, 24, found Dec. 11 on West 94th Street.

Gates said Ross waived his rights and spoke to investigators, but the chief would disclose only a portion of what was said.

“He was not able to explain all this, but he did talk freely to the officers . . . admitted that he picked up the young woman, but he did not believe she was a prostitute,” Gates said.

Ross had not been on duty since 5 p.m. the day before he was arrested, Block said.

Gates said the area where Ross was stopped is known for prostitution, and officers patrolling the area are alert for potential prostitution activity.