Woman arrested for allowing kids, ages 4 and 3, on highway, also for using fake money

A Searcy County woman has been arrested for allowing her kids, who are ages four and three, on the highway and for using fake money at a store and when the clerk wouldn’t accept the clearly fake bill, she stole an item. Twenty-four-year-old Treasure Venda Sue Ripka of rural Marshall is being held in the Searcy County jail.Ripka is on probation for an incident in Pulaski County in 2022 where she attacked three of her neighbors and killed her own dog by slashing its neck.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Searcy County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was called to an address on Arkansas State Highway 27 South for a report of young children being on the highway. When the deputy arrived, he did not see any children, so he spoke to their mother. Ripka told the deputy she was under investigation by the Department of Child and Family Services for allowing her children to be on the roadway.

Dispatch records showed deputies had been called to the address for the same thing three times previously. The deputy asked witnesses to go to the sheriff’s office to fill out witness statements. At the time the affidavit was filed, three people had done that.

The deputy noted the part of highway where Ripka lives and where the witnesses say the children have been seen on the highway has a speed limit of 55 miles-per-hour and is in a curve with an obstructed view for drivers.

In that case, Ripka is facing two felony counts of first degree endangering the welfare of a minor. She has also been ordered to have no contact with the two children.

In the other case, according to the probable cause affidavit from the Marshall Police Department, an officer was called to a convenience store after Ripka had tried to pay for items with a fake $100 bill and then stole a vape pen when cashier wouldn’t accept the fraudulent cash.

After taking the report, an officer saw Ripka’s vehicle parked at a business in Marshall. During questioning, Ripka would not talk about the incident at the convenience store, but did give the officer nine fake $100 bills she had in her wallet. All of the bills were marked “Prop movie money”.

For that incident, Ripka is facing a felony charge of first degree forgery and a misdemeanor charge of theft of property of less than $1,000.

Ripka is free after posting $5,000 bond.

PREVIOUS ARREST

Ripka was previously arrested in Pulsaksi County in 2022 on three counts of second degree battery and one count of aggravated cruelty to a dog, all felonies, along with a misdemeanor charge of first degree criminal mischief.

According to media reports of that incident, police were called to a home in England to investigate a report of a door that had been torn off its hinges.

When deputies arrived, they found Ripka naked, with her head covered in blood and foaming at the mouth. She started beating her head against the hood of the patrol car before the deputies could restrain her.

The person who called law enforcement said Ripka attacked him and two neighbors and had killed a dog. The dog, which was Ripka’s pet, was found with its neck slashed in the front yard.

He said Ripka was acting like a wild animal and after she tore off his storm door, he wound up wrestling with her about 20 minutes before he could get away and call 911.

Initially, doctors diagnosed Ripka with schizophrenia, but a second examination had a diagnosis of cannabis-induced psychotic disorder, noting she had tested positive for marijuana at the hospital.

In a plea deal with the state in February of 2024, Ripka was sentenced to five years of probation for the incident.

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