ELKHORN CITY, Ky. — Handshakes are often used to seal a deal, but a handshake ended up sealing the fate of a man who had barricaded himself in his house early this morning.
The incident began shortly before 2 a.m. when a woman called police to report that her son, Dewey Ratliff, 18, had allegedly assaulted her. When police arrived, Ratliff ran into a back bedroom. When the the officer made his way to the bedroom, he found that Ratliff had kicked out a window and fled outside.
The officer then went outside, where they found Ratliff hiding behind a dog box. The officer chased him around the dog box, but was hindered when the dog ran around him, wrapping him in a chain. That gave Ratliff enough time to run back into the house, where he allegedly barricaded himself inside with a sawed-off shotgun. His 10-year-old brother was also inside.
Police say Ratliff threatened to shoot either himself or the officer if he attempted to come inside.
A short time later, Ratliff allowed his brother to climb out of the window he had jumped out of earlier. Police were then able to get Ratliff to come to the window to talk.
While they were talking, the officer asked Ratliff to shake hands with him. When Ratliff stuck his arm out the window, the officer grabbed it and pulled him outside, where he was placed under arrest.
Ratliff is charged with assault, wanton endangerment, endangering the welfare of a minor, possessing a defaced firearm, fleeing police and other charges. He remains in the Pike County Detention Center.