An Orlando man who ran a security company for several months, employing security guards and who impersonated a law enforcement officer, was arrested earlier today, after a months-long investigation, Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies said.
Rickey Heath, 60 years, was arrested and charged with falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer.
Detectives discovered that Heath had been a police officer for the City of Apopka for 11 years and the City of Mount Dora for 3 years, but was never employed as a sheriff or deputy sheriff anywhere in the State of Florida.
Several security guards who worked for Heath have indicated that Heath told them he was an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy and was licensed to run his agency which was called, Crime Prevention Enforcement Services.
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies final encounter with Heath was made on March 5th around 11:30 pm, while he was sitting in a 1994 Ford Crown Victoria vehicle marked, “Crime Prevention Enforcement”, parked at the Lux at 5688 International Drive. Heath was dressed in uniform, identified as a security guard and armed with a Smith and Wesson. When confronted by deputies, Heath produced a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Class D Security officer license which had expired on February 13th 2001. That license had been revoked by the Division of Licensing on January 20th, 2000. Several other IDs were found on Heath, all of which had expired and had been suspended. These included: Division of Licensing Statewide Firearm License; Concealed Weapons or Firearm License; Private Investigator License; Manager Security Agency License and a Security Officer Instructor License. Detectives also found on Heath, two hand guns in the trunk of his car, multiple 2-way radios and 2-scanners in the vehicle.
After being mirandized today, March 16th, Health advised investigators that he did not tell anyone he was a current law enforcement officer or deputy sheriff. He did admit to telling people he was on the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Task Force, which was false. Investigators said that, Heath does have an ID that identifies him as being a member of the Task Force. Heath admitted that he altered the ID which was given to him by someone back in the 1990’s.
Heath was placed under arrest after the interview and transported to BRC.
