54 F
Ocala
Friday, March 29, 2024

Man with long criminal history back behind bars after using false name

Rico Dwayne Richardson

An Ocala man who had dropped off a woman next to a semi at a gas station and then gave a Marion County Sheriff’s lieutenant a false name was arrested early Wednesday morning.

The man, later identified as 34-year-old Rico Dwayne Richardson, then pulled his white Chevrolet SUV into the parking lot of the Pilot Travel Center at 4032 W Hwy. 326 and went inside the minimart. Suspecting that Richardson had dropped off a prostitute, the lieutenant waited for him to come back to his vehicle.

The lieutenant then made contact with Richardson, who “had a strong smell of alcoholic beverages on him,” a sheriff’s office report states.

Richardson identified himself as “Travis Scott” and said he didn’t have a driver’s license. He also said he couldn’t remember his Social Security number or his birthday, the report says.

The lieutenant told Richardson that he was going to pat him down for his own safety and he “started to pull away in an attempt to leave.” Richardson also reached toward his hip area where a knife holster was located, the report says, adding that the lieutenant wasn’t sure if the weapon was in the holster.

Another sheriff’s lieutenant helped get Richardson into handcuffs and when asked his correct name, he again said it was “Travis Scott.” He was placed in the back of a patrol vehicle and the lieutenant spoke with a woman who knew Richardson and confirmed his real name. A sheriff’s sergeant also brought a Rapid-ID Scanner to the truck stop and it confirmed Richardson’s true identity as well, the report says.

Richardson was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with giving false identification to a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest without violence and lewd and lascivious battery on a child between the ages of 12 and 16. He was being held on $12,000 bond and is due in Marion County Court on Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. and Jan. 2 at 9 a.m. to answer to the charges.

Richardson is no stranger to the Marion County legal system, having been in the jail 12 times since January 2002. Marion County Court records show that he has been found guilty of:

  • Giving a false name to law enforcement officers (October 2016);
  • Robbery with a firearm (October 2009);
  • Driving with a suspended or revoked license (August 2007);
  • Possession of cocaine and resisting arrest without violence (December 2003);
  • Possession of marijuana and resisting arrest without violence (September 2003);
  • Loitering and prowling and resisting arrest without violence (May 2003); and
  • Felony fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, resisting arrest without violence and driving without a valid license (December 2003).

Florida Department of Corrections records also show that Richardson has spent time in state prisons. Those stints include:

  • Dec. 7, 2005-Oct. 15, 2006;
  • Nov. 10, 2009-Nov. 1, 2011;
  • Feb. 13, 2012-Sept. 15, 2015; and
  • Nov. 10, 2016-May 31, 2017.