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SUPERIOR COURT OF RIDGEWAY
IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF RIDGEWAY
iiCryptic_LawMD,
Plaintiff,
v.
Ridgeway County Sheriff’s Office,
AND
The Sheriff of Ridgeway County, in their
official capacity
Defendants.
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BEFORE:
ACTION NO.: RSC-AH
ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIM FOR
RELIEF
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
COMES NOW the Plaintiff, iiCryptic_LawMD, appearing pro se, respectfully states and
alleges as follows:
THE PARTIES
1. Plaintiff iiCryptic_LawMD is a State Resident certified as a Law Enforcement Officer
with the Law Enforcement Training Center who was, at all times relevant, employed as a
primary Schedule C civil servant with the Ridgeway County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff.
2. Defendant Ridgeway County Sheriff’s Office is a civil service agency established under 9
Rid. Stat. § 321.001 having statutory jurisdiction over the County of Ridgeway, at the direction
of the Sheriff.
3. Defendant Sheriff of Ridgeway County is the main elected officeholder of the Ridgeway
County Sheriff’s Office, elected by the people according to Rid. Const. Art. IV, Sec. IX and
further established under 9 Rid. Stat. § 321.102.
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JURISDICTION AND VENUE
4. The Courts of Justice shall be open for the trial of all causes proper for their cognizance;
and justice shall be therein impartially administered, without corruption or unnecessary delay.
See Rid. Const. Art. V, Sec. I.
5. The Ridgeway Superior Court has original jurisdiction for all civil and criminal cases or
controversies under the rules as set by the Supreme Court. See Rid. Const. Art. V, Sec. IV and
Rid. R. Civ. P. 3.
6. The administrative court shall hold original jurisdiction in all administrative procedures
arising from an adverse personnel action against a civil service employee. See 3 Rid. Stat. §
141.006
7. The Superior Court of the State of Ridgeway shall have jurisdiction over all civil claims.
See 3 Rid. Stat. § 131.004(c).
8. Venue is proper because the conduct alleged in this claim occurred within the bounds
of Ridgeway County in the State of Ridgeway.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
A. Plaintiff’s Initial Relationship with Defendants
9. On or about the date of March 24, 2026, the Plaintiff was employed as an unsworn
Probationary Correctional Officer with the Ridgeway County Sheriff’s Office, a Schedule C(b)
position, having been placed on probation.
10. On March 31, 2026, the Plaintiff was promoted to a full-fledged Correctional Officer and
has not accrued any recorded adverse action up until transfer.
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11. On April 20, 2026, the Plaintiff entered the Deputy Academy as a recruit after obtaining
their Law Enforcement Training Certification by way of transfer, where training was completed
on April 26, 2026.
12. On May 3, 2026, the Plaintiff transferred to the Training Division as a Primary Instructor
where the remainder of their service was in.
13. The Plaintiff does not have any disciplinary history between the months of May and July.
B. The Announcement and Investigation
14. On May 11, 2026, the Plaintiff was contacted by then Corporal ImikoHiei of the Internal
Affairs Unit as a witness to a complaint filed against a correctional officer involving the
execution of a search warrant. The Plaintiff was not viewed as a suspect during this time.
15. During the timeframe set out in B of this Claim and just prior to the investigation, the
Supervisor for Internal Affairs announced that anyone who executed a Search Warrant without
Special Response Team (SRT) approval will be terminated. This fact was raised during the
pre-disciplinary hearing.
16. On May 22, 2026, the Plaintiff was contacted as an involved accused by then Corporal
ImikoHiei. No public announcement of administrative leave was announced between this
timeframe.
17. On May 26, 2026, the Plaintiff was informed that a pre-disciplinary hearing was
occurring. The Plaintiff, at the hearing, was informed that the Ridgeway County Sheriff’s Office
was considering an involuntary general discharge.
18. At the hearing, the Plaintiff, acting without counsel, argued that, while conceding the core
facts of the incident in question, there are procedural flaws that should have been taken into
consideration.
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19. Two (2) days later, the Plaintiff was informed that they have been generally discharged
from the Ridgeway County Sheriff’s Office. An End of Service Search was subsequently
performed.
20. On the same day, the Plaintiff filed an appeal with the Ridgeway County Sheriff’s Office.
And on July 10, 2026, the Plaintiff was informed that the appeal was denied.
21. On the same day, the Plaintiff initiated a contact ticket with the Department of Justice to
initiate the pre-suit mediation pursuant to 2 Rid. Stat. § 123.001.
22. On August 10, 2026, the Plaintiff was informed by letter that the Plaintiff’s relief was
denied, such that the Department of Justice will not award relief to the Plaintiff.
CAUSES OF ACTION
COUNT I - ARBITRARY PUNISHMENT
(4 Rid. Stat. § 123.401(e)-402)
23. The Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 9 through 22 as though
fully set forth herein.
24. In relevant part, an arbitrary punishment shall be defined as any punishment that takes no
accounting for mitigating factors, circumstances, or liabilities. See 4 Rid. Stat. § 123.401(e)
25. It is unlawful for an appointing authority, in this case the Sheriff’s Office as a group, to
issue arbitrary punishment. See 4 Rid. Stat. § 123.402
26. The Ridgeway County Sheriff’s Office failed to account for mitigating factors when
immediately resorting to an involuntary general discharge against the Plaintiff, and failed to
consider the liability had for Supervisors to influence an investigation.
27. Plaintiff is entitled to equitable and declaratory relief under 3 Rid. Stats. § 141.010-011.
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COUNT II - CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
(4 Rid. Stat. § 123.501(f) & (g))
28. The Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 9 through 22 as though
fully set forth herein.
29. In relevant parts, all persons shall have the right to be free from coercion, obstruction or
oppression during the course of their employment. All persons shall have the right to seek review
from the courts over prejudicial or harmful practices relating to their employment. See 4 Rid.
Stat. §123.501(f) and 4 Rid. Stat. § 123.501(g) respectively.
30. The Ridgeway County Sheriff’s Office, by influencing the result of the investigation,
fostered an oppressive, obstructive and coercive environment by placing implicit pressure on the
Plaintiff’s matter investigator to resort to termination. The announcement obstructed an
ordinarily unbiased process.
31. By subjecting the Plaintiff to a predetermined investigation through the same conduct, the
Ridgeway County Sheriff’s Office fostered an oppressive working environment by exercising
supervisory authority to make an announcement.
32. The Ridgeway County Sheriff’s Office, by the same conduct, engaged in a harmful and
prejudicial practice by immediately resorting to termination and prejudging the Plaintiff’s matter.
33. Plaintiff is entitled to equitable and declaratory relief under 3 Rid. Stats. § 141.010-011.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, the Plaintiff respectfully requests that this Court grant the following
relief:
a. Declare that the adverse action taken against the Plaintiff is arbitrary as a matter of
administrative law;
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b. Order the full reinstatement of the Plaintiff in good standing within the Ridgeway County
Sheriff’s Office, and;
c. Any other relief the Court deems just and proper;
VERIFICATION
The undersigned declares under penalty of perjury that all the facts alleged in this Claim
are true and accurate to the undersigned’s recollection.
DATED: August 11, 2026 Respectfully Submitted,
/s/ iiCryptic_LawMD
/s/ iiCryptic_LawMD
Plaintiff, pro se
Counsel of Record,
RSB: 10233
D: cryptic2733
E: [email protected]
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