A local man who fled Mountain Pine marshals in January, leading deputies on a lengthy pursuit before crashing and fleeing on foot, and who later fought deputies and medics when arrested in March pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges Tuesday.
Richard James Ratliff, 28, who has remained in custody since his arrest March 21, pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to two counts of second-degree battery, three counts of first-degree terroristic threatening and possession of a controlled substance, meth, and was sentenced to four years in prison on each count, to run concurrently, while additional felony charges of fleeing, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a prohibited weapon were withdrawn.
Ratliff, who lists a Skyview Terrace address, was also fined a total of $3,500 and ordered to pay $755 in court costs.
According to the probable cause affidavits, on Jan. 12, Mountain Pine Marshal's Office Sgt. Kris Wootten attempted a traffic stop on a white Ford Ranger at Main and Fourth streets in Mountain Pine but the driver, later identified as Ratliff, refused to stop and turned onto Seventh Street, dropping off a passenger, before speeding away.
The vehicle pursuit continued to Mountain View Street and out of Mountain Pine, through Garland County and into Hot Springs, with Mountain Pine Lt. Brandon Huckaba joining the pursuit at one point. The vehicle wrecked in the 200 block of Skyview Terrace, crashing through an awning attached to a trailer and then hitting a tree.
Ratliff fled the scene and could not be located at that time. In searching the vehicle, investigators found several glass smoking devices and a small amount of meth, less than 1 gram. The investigators contacted the registered owner, 37, of the vehicle who told them he let Ratliff borrow it earlier.
Investigators were then contacted by the passenger, 20, that Ratliff had dropped off who agreed to be interviewed. He stated Ratliff had picked him up earlier to take him to Dollar General and while they were returning from the store a police vehicle attempted to pull them over.
He said Ratliff told him he wasn't going to stop because he had warrants and the passenger made Ratliff let him out because "he was not going to be a part of anything." On Jan. 16, investigators obtained security video from the Dollar General and were able to positively identify the driver as Ratliff. A warrant for Ratliff's arrest was issued on Jan. 22.
On March 21, Huckaba received information Ratliff might be at a residence in the 300 block of Skyview and he, Wootten and deputy marshal Richard Lobbs went to that location and spoke with a woman who confirmed Ratliff was inside and let them in. They found Ratliff in a recliner and noted he appeared to be asleep.
They announced their presence and the fact they had warrants for Ratliff's arrest and Ratliff stood up, dropping a pair of brass knuckles he had been holding in his hand. After they handcuffed him, Ratliff "appeared to have a seizure" so they put him on the ground and called for LifeNet.
LifeNet medics arrived and were preparing to transport Ratliff to a hospital when Ratliff became combative and began fighting the officers and medics, injuring Huckaba and Wootten. The medics finally gave Ratliff something to sedate him and got him on a gurney, but he continued to fight and threatened the officers, yelling, "I have seen your faces and I will kill you and your families!"
Ratliff was taken to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs for treatment and later released into custody.
Local on 10/03/2019