Kaylanna Ricks was arrested along with 5 members of the Rutgers football team in connection with home invasions and an assault.
PERTH AMBOY - The father of Rutgers student Kaylanna Ricks - who allegedly drove two Rutgers football suspects from the scene of a robbery - defended his daughter on Thursday, just hours after her arrest.
"My mom and myself are just trying to figure out what to do," said Patrick Ricks, who himself is an assistant football coach for the Panthers at Perth Amboy High School, according to the district website.
"I stand by my daughter," Ricks said.
According to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, Kaylanna drove a getaway car after TeeJay Johnson, 23, of Egg Harbor and Andre Boggs, 20, of Pa., conspired to force their way into a dorm at Livingston College in Piscataway to rob a student back on May 5.
PREVIOUSLY: 5 Rutgers football players arrested in connection with home invasions and assault
Ricks is accused of driving Boggs and Johnson from the crime scene, the prosecutor said.
A 2013 graduate of Perth Amboy High School, Ricks played girls basketball and volleyball.
"This (arrest) is not something I would ever expected of her," said Tavaughn McKenzie, who works with Ricks at The RutgersZone Ice Cream Parlor.
"She was always nice, always helpful," he said. "She's a really cool person."
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.