July 10, 2017
WELL KNOWN JOHNSON COUNTY KENTUCKY CRIMINAL FLOWN TO W. VA. TRAUMA CENTER AFTER SHOPLIFTING CALL LEADS TO HIGH SPEED CHASE, ENDING WITH VIOLENT CRASH IN ASHLAND
JULY 10, 2017 – written by WADE QUEEN
A notorious Johnson County man with a lengthy criminal past, with 22 arrests on over five dozen criminal offenses in the last nine years, remains hospitalized after being flown to a Huntington, West Virginia hospital, after his latest criminal escape last week has caused his pending most extreme judicial repercussions yet, along with being seriously injured as well.
On Friday, July 7, the Catlettsburg Police Department reported they got a 911 call about shoplifting at a pharmacy. When they stopped the suspect’s car, they discovered the vehicle was stolen.
When a Catlettsburg officer approached the car, the driver sped off, nearly hitting the officer.
Officials of the Catlettsburg Police say the driver, Dustin Cody Ratliff, 28, of Hager Hill, Kentucky, in Johnson County, led police officers on a high speed chase for several miles, which ended when Ratliff crashed on Winchester Avenue in Ashland. At least three vehicles were involved in the crash.
Dustin Cody Ratliff is expected to face multiple charges including robbery and assault on an officer.
Catlettsburg Police say the car came back as being stolen from Johnson County.
Another person was in the vehicle with Dustin Cody Ratliff. That person’s identity has not been released.
Several drugs were also found in the stolen vehicle.
Two people were flown to the hospital, including one person in the suspect’s vehicle, who was revealed later as Dustin Cody Ratliff. The medical condition of Ratliff has not been released, as well as the name and medical state of the second crash victim who was also flown out by helicopter to a Huntington hospital trauma center.
Winchester Avenue was closed in the area for several hours after the violent chase crash collision.
Since July 6, 2008, Dustin Cody Ratliff has been arrested 22 times on over 60 felony and misdemeanor criminal charges violation offenses, of which 16 times he was arrested in Johnson County, four in Leslie County, once in Casey County, and one time in Perry County.
