Pike woman arrested after two-state police chase

By Lilly Adkins
BSN Associate Editor


PRESTONSBURG — A Pikeville woman was arrested after leading law enforcement from Kentucky and West Virginia on a high-speed chase that began in Prestonsburg and ended across state lines.
Heather Ladawn Ratliff, 31, of Cowpen Road, was arrested by West Virginia officers and lodged in the Southwestern Regional Jail on several felony charges, including being a convicted felon in possession of a hand gun, DUI, fleeing and evading police, and possession of methamphetamine. The Prestonsburg Police Department petitioned for a warrant from the courts for additional charges and have confirmed extradition with Floyd County Commonwealth's Attorney A. Brent Turner's Office. Once West Virginia authorities find their charges settled, Ratliff will be returned to Kentucky to answer the charges, as well as outstanding, unrelated felony warrants for her arrest, officials said. Ratliff's Kentucky charges, in addition to her previous outstanding felony warrants, include first-degree possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; speeding 26 miles per hour over the speed limit; reckless driving; first-degree fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle; first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer; possession of a handgun by a convicted felon; second-degree persistent felony offender; and operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license. According to a press release issued by the Prestonsburg Police Department, the Prestonsburg 911 Center received an attempt-to-locate complaint on a 2005 Jeep SUV. The original complaint was that the female in operation of the vehicle had unlawfully taken it, the release said. While on patrol, patrolman Zach Neice observed a vehicle matching the description of that complaint, the release said, and noticed that the registration on the vehicle was invalid and belonged to another vehicle. He attempted to make a traffic stop, the release said, but vehicle fled south on U.S. 23. Neice was joined in the pursuit by patrolman Darrell Preston, Major Mike Conn, and Chief Larry Woods, the release said. The Jeep continued south through Floyd County, where Floyd County sheriff's deputies and Kentucky State Police troopers assisted with the chase, the release said.
In the area of Green Meadows in Pikeville, the vehicle made a U-turn and returned to Floyd County, where it made another U-turn and returned toward Pike County, the release said. The vehicle nearly struck several police cruisers during that time, the release said. The vehicle continued south on U.S. 23 in to Pikeville, where it made a left turn at U.S. 119 at the Buckley's Creek intersection and traveled north toward Belfry, the release said. The vehicle continued into Pond Creek at speeds reaching and exceeding 100 miles per hour, the release said. As the vehicle continued through Belfry and South Williamson, it crossed into Mingo County, W.Va., where the West Virginia State Police, Mingo County Sheriff's Office and Williamson Police Department took lead in the pursuit, the release said. The vehicle continued north into Logan County, W.Va., where Logan County sheriff's deputies, West Virginia State Police troopers and Kentucky officers were able to stop the vehicle and place Ratliff under arrest, according to the press release said. “This pursuit of a dangerous convicted felon spanned nearly eighty miles and three hours,” Prestonsburg Police said in the release. Ratliff was lodged in the Western Regional Jail, where she was being held in lieu of a $50,000 cash bond.