(CHITRIBUNE)Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff made death threats and claimed to be the devil during multiple visits to...
Ratliff showed up at Halas Hall in no condition to work on the morning of Oct. 21, multiple people familiar with the situation have said. After Ratliff was sent home, driven away by someone else, the Bears decided to cut the four-time Pro Bowler.
After Ratliff was informed of his release, he returned to team headquarters, parked outside the security gate and came onto the property on foot, saying he needed to gather his belongings.
According to the police report, in which multiple names are redacted, Ratliff at one point said “he felt like killing everybody in the building.”
Ratliff left with his belongings without further incident during that particular visit.
John Tarpey, Bears director of safety and security, called the Lake Forest police department's non-emergency line. Audio was obtained by the Tribune.
"We'd like to have an officer come over," Tarpey calmly told the woman who answered the call. "We had an issue with a player. He left pretty upset, came back and then left again upset. We're a little concerned that he may come back again. So we'd like to have an officer over here, talk to him about it and see what we can do here."
Tarpey did not provide details over the phone when the woman asked more questions.
"I can explain it all to him when he gets here," Tarpey said. "It's kind of a long story."
According to the police report, Ratliff returned to Halas Hall a short while after he left for the second time, saying he needed to retrieve his cell phone. During that visit, he said, “I am the devil” and that he “wished staff member’s children would die.”
It was not clear from the report whether police arrived before Ratliff's third appearance. But team officials alerted police of their belief that Ratliff owns multiple firearms, the report says.
Ultimately, no charges were filed and Ratliff has not returned to Halas Hall since, according to Deputy Chief Karl Walldorf of the Lake Forest police department.
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