A Tangipahoa Parish deputy sheriff is behind bars on child pornography charges.
Hammond Police arrested 34-year-old Brent Ridder when they say they discovered evidence of child pornography on an electronic device during an unrelated investigation into Ridder.
"HPD detectives uncovered evidence of child pornography on an electronic device belonging to Ridder," said police. "With the assistance of the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Attorney General, search warrants were subsequently conducted on Ridder’s residence and other electronic devices were seized to be processed and evaluated. "
Ridder has been booked with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of malfeasance in office.
When notified of the initial investigation, the sheriff's office placed Ridder on administrative leave. It has since fired Ridder.
"These allegations make me sick," said Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker. "And I will say this until I am blue in the face – the standards at this agency are better than this. The people who represent this agency are better than this. The public that this agency serves deserves better than this. I will continue to ensure those who wear our badge are worthy to do so."
