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Bradley Jay Riches
- Jun. 12, 1999 -
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(25632)
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Pass your cursor over pic to see larger version! Click pic for full version!
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Resided: |
CA, USA
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Born: | Unk |
Fallen: | Jun. 12, 1999 |
Race/Sex: | Caucasian Male / 34 yrs. of age |
| Agency |
Dept: | Orange County Sheriff's Dept. - CA
13502 Musick Honor Farm Road Irvine, CA
92618 USA (949)855-2612 |
County: | Orange |
Dept. Type: | County/Police |
Hero's Rank: | Deputy |
Sworn Date: | 1/1989 |
FBI Class: | Homicide - Ambush |
Weapon Class: | Firearm |
Agency URL: | Click Here
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On The Job: |
9 years
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Bio: Bradley Riches was born in Canada. Because of his father's occupation, his family lived in various countries including Holland, Singapore and Australia, before settling in Orange County. He graduated from Dana Hills High School in 1984.
He then worked for the fire department as a paid call fireman until 1988. During this time he also worked as a medical technician for an ambulance company.
Riches' career in law enforcement began in 1989 as an Orange County Sheriff's special officer, a position ranking below deputy. A year later, he was awarded a Medal of Courage after wrestling a gun away from a distraught welfare recipient at a county office.
In 1991, Riches was hired as a fully sworn deputy sheriff. He was assigned to the James A. Musick Facility Branch Jail and the Orange County Central Jail. In October 1998, Riches was assigned to patrol in the city of Lake Forest.
During Riches' "jail tenure," he used his carpentry and woodworking skills to build a wall of honor for Orange County Sheriff's deputies slain in the line of duty. He carved the giant wood frame, installed the track lighting and framed the portraits of five sheriff's deputies who have died in the line of duty over the department's long history.
"They Are Not Dead Who Live in the Lives They Leave Behind," he wrote meticulously placing the gold letters one by one. Now a place will be made by him. |
Survived by: |
Bruce and Meriel Riches - Parents and brother Robert
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Fatal Incident Summary
Offender: |
Maurice Gerald Steskal
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Male
- 39 years old
a Lake Forest man with a history of arrests for drunk driving, drugs, and assaulting a police officer.
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Location: |
CA
USA
Sat. Jun. 12, 1999
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Summary: |
Deputy Riches was shot and killed after being ambushed at a convenience store. Deputy Riches was on routine patrol when he pulled up to a 7-11 store. As soon as he pulled up, a man exited the store and opened fire on him with an AK-47 rifle. Although Deputy Riches was able to make an emergency broadcast, he did not have time to return fire or exit his vehicle before he was killed.
The suspect then fled the scene of the shooting. Another deputy recognized the murderer after viewing the store's surveillance tapes and he was arrested later in the day while trying to flee the area. The suspect had a history of arrests for drunk driving, drugs, and assaulting a police officer.
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Disposition: |
Five hours after the shooting, deputies and investigators arrested 39-year-old Maurice Gerald Steskal, a Lake Forest man who allegedly walked into the mini-market with an assault rifle and told the clerk that his intention was not to rob the store, but to use the weapon against police.
Steskal was identified as a suspect soon after the crime scene was secured. Orange County Deputy Andre Spencer, one of several area deputies brought in to view the store's videotape, recognized Steskal as someone he'd arrested. He identified him as "aggressive, assaultive and non-compliant with law enforcement."
The suspect was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death in December 2003. |
Source: |
Website Click
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Last Updated: May. 29, 2019 |
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