WEST CHICAGO — A man with a prior felony record has been denied pre-trial release after allegedly possessing a stolen loaded firearm during a confrontation in West Chicago, officials confirmed.
The suspect, Ryan Ratliff, was arrested on June 28 following a disturbance involving an armed individual. Witnesses at the scene told responding officers that Ratliff had pointed a handgun at them. Although police initially did not find a weapon on him, they later discovered a loaded gun hidden inside a nearby liquor store that Ratliff had entered during the encounter.
Authorities say the firearm was reported stolen from Chicago earlier in the month.
Felony Record and Serious Charges Prompt Custody Order
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin released a statement expressing serious concern about Ratliff’s alleged actions.
“It is extremely disturbing that an individual with Mr. Ratliff’s criminal history is alleged to have been walking around with a loaded stolen gun,” Berlin said.
Because of the severity of the allegations and Ratliff’s past convictions, a judge agreed with prosecutors to deny pre-trial release, citing the public safety risk. If convicted, Ratliff could face six to thirty years in prison.
Police and Prosecutors Commended for Response
West Chicago Police Chief Colin Fleury praised the work of his officers and the legal team.
“I commend our officers for their excellent job investigating this incident and thank the State’s Attorney’s Office for their continued support,” Fleury said.
The collaboration between police and prosecutors was instrumental in quickly identifying and recovering the stolen weapon and building a strong case against Ratliff.
Next Court Appearance Scheduled
Ratliff is scheduled to appear in court again on July 28, 2025, before Judge Margaret O’Connell.
What do you think about the judge’s decision to deny bail in this case? Should repeat firearm offenders be automatically detained before trial? Let us know in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
