Former Harris County 6th District Deputy Rigo Vivar apologizes as Ricardo Resendez's family learns of law enforcement's past

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – The family of a man allegedly killed by a former Harris County 6th District deputy constable who was driving the wrong way in the Second Ward on Saturday is calling his death a “murder.”

Houston police believe then-Deputy Police Officer Rigo Vivar was driving the wrong way down Canal Street around 1:30 p.m. Saturday when he struck a man turning from Canal Street onto Live Oak Street, killing him.

The family has identified the deceased as 28-year-old Ricardo Resendez. In a statement first shared with ABC13, the family said: “Ricardo was the shining star of the family and lived his life to the highest standards. Family was Ricardo's first priority and he was the protector of his mother and sisters and had a wonderful relationship with his loving father.”

ABC13 spoke with Vivar, who was fired by Precinct 6 on Sunday, at his home on Monday. He cried as he told the Resendez family, “I'm sorry.”

SEE ORIGINAL STORY: Precinct 6 officer under investigation for fatal wrong-way driving crash fired

Vivar's injuries, which he reported by radio a few minutes after the accident, were clearly visible. His hand was mutilated and bleeding. He had a cut on his forehead.

The Resendez family said their loved one was “a good man whose bright future was taken away in an instant by a ruthless, unscrupulous law enforcement officer who should not be allowed to carry a badge or carry a gun, let alone have authority over the citizens of the area.”

They also learned that Vivar has “a long history of serious failures in his professional and personal life.”

ABC13 asked Vivar about the allegations regarding his traffic violation, which were shared with Eyewitness News by his former colleagues and family. Vivar denied the allegations and referred ABC13 to his attorney.

Resendez lived just a few hundred meters from the accident site. His neighbor, Antonio Briones, rushed to his aid after the accident and rolled back his windshield.

“Be careful out there. You never know who's driving or what type of driver it is, no matter who it is,” Briones said.

You can read the full statement from the Resendez family below:

“The Resendez family requests privacy as they experience immense and unbearable grief over the tragic and unnecessary loss of their beloved son, brother and loved one, Ricardo Resendez Jr. at the age of 28.

Ricardo was the shining star of the family and lived his life to the highest standards. Family came first for Ricardo, he was the protector of his mother and sisters and had a wonderful relationship with his loving father. He was a good man whose bright future was taken away in an instant by a ruthless, unscrupulous lawman who was not allowed to carry a badge or a gun, let alone exercise authority over the local population.

The Resendez family demands justice for Ricardo. His loss cannot have been in vain. We respect the Houston Police Department's investigation of this horrific event and urge the Harris County District Attorney's Office to accurately and expeditiously charge the guilty 6th Precinct Police Officer for the needless murder of our son on August 24th.

We have learned that this particular police officer has a long history of serious misconduct in his professional and personal life.

The family will be available for public comment at a time not yet known.

The Resendez family's sole goal is to seek full and complete justice for Ricardo Resendez Jr. and to ensure that this never happens again to an innocent private citizen.”

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