West Chicago law enforcement has once again prevented a firearm from remaining in the wrong hands. According to a recent report from the DuPage County State’s Attorney, a judge has ordered Ryan Ratliff, with prior felony convictions, to remain in custody on charges of possessing a loaded handgun and other related offenses.
On the evening of June 28, West Chicago police responded to a disturbance involving an armed individual. After witnesses identified Ratliff as the perpetrator who had pointed a handgun at them, officers conducted a search. Though initially they did not find a weapon on Ratliff, they later recovered a loaded gun hidden in a liquor store Ratliff had entered, as per the DuPage County State’s Attorney. This firearm was reported stolen out of Chicago earlier that month.
In a statement obtained by the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, State’s Attorney Robert Berlin expressed his concern about an individual with Ratliff's history allegedly carrying a loaded weapon in public, deeming it "extremely disturbing." Berlin emphasized the seriousness of the charges Ratliff faces, with potential incarceration spanning six to thirty years.
The court denied pre-trial release for Ratliff based on the gravity of the allegations and his criminal background. Police Chief Colin Fleury commended his officers for their "excellent job investigating this incident," per an interview with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office. Fleury also thanked the legal team for their support, highlighting the collaboration between law enforcement and the State's legal apparatus.
Ratliff's next court date is set for July 28, 2025, where he will face Judge Margaret O’Connell.
