Dramatic footage has surfaced showing Des Moines police confronting a road rage suspect who was armed. According to police reports, an officer allegedly threatened to shoot those in another vehicle following a minor collision.
Police arrived around 2:30 p.m. on Friday after receiving calls about one driver aiming a handgun at another after the crash in Des Moines. The suspect has been identified as 43-year-old Bradley Ratkovich.
Investigators noted that various evidence, including witness testimonies and video recordings, indicated that Ratkovich exited his vehicle post-crash and pointed a Glock 9mm at the driver, who was 18, and his 16-year-old female passenger. It was reported that Ratkovich even threatened to “shoot.”
A video shared online by a witness, Joshua Berzon, captured Ratkovich in front of the sedan, holding the weapon. As police sirens approached, a Des Moines police cruiser arrived, and an officer quickly jumped out with his gun drawn.
“Put the gun down,” the officer commanded. Eventually, Ratkovich set the handgun on the ground as the officer insisted he stand back and place his hands on his head. A second officer joined, and they swiftly took Ratkovich into custody without further issues.
Throughout the scene, Berzon could be heard urging Ratkovich to stay back, saying, “Please stop. Relax, bro,” also advising him to return to his car.
Reflecting on the incident in a social media post, Berzon stated, “Road violence turned nearly deadly today in my area of Des Moines. At the same intersection I stop at on my way to work, a man fired a gun at another driver. Thankfully, the police intervened before it was too late. Please be careful.”
Police mentioned that Ratkovich was taken to a local hospital for a medical assessment before being booked into the Polk County Jail. He faces multiple charges, including two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of first-degree harassment, as well as a charge for being an unfit person to possess a dangerous weapon.
In court, Ratkovich pleaded not guilty, waiving his preliminary hearing with bail set at $12,000. He is expected to appear in court on August 4th, with an arraignment scheduled for September 9th. His attorney, Kent Balducci, disputed the allegations, asserting that Ratkovich acted in self-defense after being rear-ended while stopped at an intersection.
Balducci explained that Ratkovich and his son suffered injuries from the crash, and that Ratkovich had instructed his son to call the police before stepping out to exchange information. He claimed that when the other driver became aggressive and attempted to leave, Ratkovich, feeling threatened, pulled out the gun and directed the driver to stop to avoid being hit.
Balducci noted there were no shots fired and insisted that Ratkovich had only drawn his firearm when he felt endangered. He also added the other driver had previous charges, including driving without a valid driver’s license and liability insurance, suggesting those issues were unresolved prior to the accident.
As the police continue their investigation, they are awaiting traffic camera footage. In a statement, the department remarked on the dangers of introducing firearms into disputes, encouraging individuals involved in accidents to contact law enforcement and remain at the scene for proper handling of the situation.
