The details were disturbing.
Former Bears defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff made death threats and claimed to be the devil during his outbursts Oct. 21 at Halas Hall, according to a Lake Forest police report, which was released Friday.
Much of the police report is redacted, but Ratliff is described as a “credible threat,” “irritable” and “very angry.”
Ratliff said “I am the devil” and wished that a staff member’s children would die, according to the report. It also states that Ratliff “felt like killing everyone in the building.”
According to the report, a team official had “concern for the safety of the staff” and told police that it’s believed that Ratliff owns firearms.
The report said Ratliff returned to Halas Hall multiple times to obtain his belongings before finally leaving “without further incident.” Charges are not expected to be filed.
Ratliff’s agent, Mark Slough, released a statement saying that Ratliff has “no recollection or memory of saying anything that has been reported in the police report.”
“Jeremiah is receiving care in Dallas for a football-related medical condition that arose out of the game on the 18th with Detroit,” Slough said. “The primary focus right now is on Jeremiah’s cognitive health. I would also like to reiterate that the reports that Jeremiah showed up at Halas Hall inebriated are utterly and completely false.”
Ratliff injured his neck late in regulation of the Bears’ overtime loss to the Lions. Sources said that Ratliff’s incident began with a dispute with the medical staff about the treatment of his neck. The 34-year-old also missed three games last season because of a concussion.
Coach John Fox was the only member of the Bears’ hierarchy to address the details in the police report. Fox made it clear that Ratliff was released because of his behavior, not because of his health.
“We don’t cut people because they get injured,” Fox said. “At some point, we have to do what’s best for the organization.”
That included calling police the day of Ratliff’s outbursts. Bears security director John Tarpey called the Lake Forest police’s non-emergency line, according to audio provided by the department.
“We’d like to have an officer come over,” Tarpey told the operator. “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.”
In the early afternoon, Bears general manager Ryan Pace was seen escorting Ratliff to Halas Hall’s gated entrance, where Ratliff’s truck was barred from entering. It appeared to be more cordial than earlier exchanges, but Lake Forest police arrived at the facility later that day. A sponsor event also was allowed to continue in a Halas Hall parking lot.
For the second time this week, Fox remained vague about Ratliff’s situation, saying it was a personal matter that didn’t need to be made public. Asked why media at Halas Hall weren’t alerted about a possible threatening situation, Fox said, “The police were here. That’s kind of an alert, at least in my book.”
According to sources, an email was sent to staff members Oct. 22, saying “an isolated situation” made for heightened security measures that day at Halas Hall. Ratliff officially was released the day after his outbursts.
“Please rest assured, the situation is completely under control,” the email said. “We are simply being extra careful.”
According to the police report, a Bears official would have signed a complaint for trespassing if Ratliff had returned to Halas Hall on Oct. 22.
Fox said that he didn’t have a confrontation with Ratliff on Oct. 21 and that there were no previous incidents.
Fox didn’t view Ratliff’s fight in training camp with center Will Montgomery or his blowup late last season under former coach Marc Trestman as red flags.
Fox was asked if he was satisfied that Ratliff was no longer a threat.
“Satisfied? I don’t know if that’s the right word,” Fox said. “But if you’re asking me if I’m nervous, I’m not.”
When informed of the police report, Bears players were in disbelief. Outside linebacker Lamarr Houston even questioned the authenticity of the report.
“Just because it’s on a police report doesn’t mean anything,” Houston said. “It’s not the Ratliff I know.”
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Email: ajahns@suntimes.com
