Carjackers make big mistake jumping this Lone Grove man - 83 YO breaks would-be carjackers arm

Ardmoreite.com ^ | December 10, 2003 | By Wilbert Wiggs

[MeekOneGOP]

Story last updated at 8:52 a.m. Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Carjackers make big mistake jumping this Lone Grove man
By Wilbert Wiggs
Staff Writer

  Ratliff  

And the moral of this story is: Don't be fooled by a relaxing "old" man kicked back with his boots off. Especially if that "old" man happens to be Pat Ratliff of Lone Grove.

That's the first mistake a Dallas carjacking team made a few days ago while scouting a parking lot for an easy mark. At 83, Ratliff can strike one as an easy mark.

That was the second mistake, as they spotted Ratliff waiting for his wife and grandson to return from a nearby store.

A red-headed woman and gun-toting male companion had the element of surprise on their side. That advantage didn't account for Pat's cool approach to just about any situation and his reputation as "the man who tears quarters with his bare fingers."

"They shouldn't have done that," Ratliff remarked about the totally unexpected attack.

Ratliff was only momentarily surprised when the woman appeared by the driver's door and began hitting him with her purse for no apparent reason. The reason became clear moments later when a man stuck a gun inside from the opposite side.

Being the alert type and an individual who's "been through a lot of stuff," Ratliff immediately began looking for an opportunity. He was ready when the man glanced away.

"I grabbed his arm and broke it over the door," Ratliff said of his response, speaking literally. "The bone was sticking from his arm. I was trying to teach him a lesson."

Disarmed and with a broken arm, the man fled. Security personnel at the store suspect the carjackers have pulled previous capers. Police were able to apprehend the pair, but Ratliff advised them he doesn't want to return to Dallas for a court appearance.

Ratliff is almost apologetic when he says he's not as stout as he once was.

Be that as it may, you're not going to convince a cool (much younger) dude from Dallas who "fled like a 'possum" after his personal encounter with the 83-year-old man from Lone Grove.

"They shouldn't do that," Ratliff repeated.

Wilbert Wiggs, 221-6526 or wilbert.wiggs@ardmoreite.com.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Wish I had an Oklahoma ping list.

Waste of time Meek, Okies can't read........ lol

Congrats to the brave man for showing those punks not to mess with him!

[MeekOneGOP]

ROFL !! I just saw your post on the Okla board. Yer title:

Carjackers attack poor, helpless 83-Year-Old Lone Grove OK man

haha !!

[FreedomPoster]

Check this out. Don't mess with tough ole' dudes is the lesson for the day!

[Free Trapper]

DD,IIRC you told me once that it had been a while since you were in Ardmore,do you remember where Lone Grove is located? :)

[archy]

ROFL !! I just saw your post on the Okla board. Yer title:

Carjackers attack poor, helpless 83-Year-Old Lone Grove OK man

I figured it'd cheer up some Oklahoma folks once they got the happy ending. Don't tell the moderators, they'd probably get their noses out of joint about it.

[DannyTN]

"A compound fracture beats a pistol in nonfunctioning hand."

It's cheaper than a prison sentence too. Probably more instructive.

[OldEagle]

Don't you just love it???

I have a new hero.

[Victoria_R]

Carjackers who didn't know Rule One:

"Do not act incautiously when confronting a little bald wrinkly smiling man." - Terry Pratchett, "Thief of Time", page 53.

[Woodman]

I knew a 70+ year old Batan Death March survivor in Australia that when this happened, he rolled up the car window tight on the guy's arm and made him jog all the way the the local police station. Of couse he disarmed him first.

[Bob J]

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[Free Trapper]

Why,that was just out and out MEAN to say that Okies can't read. :o{

Now we know WHY they run YOU out of Texas. HeHeee....:O)

[Political Junkie Too]

If this were Florida, they'd have arrested Ratliff on battery charges and told him he should have called the police. A few weeks ago, there was the story of a 72-year-old man who shot a teen in the arm when a group was beating up his 70-year-old friend. The police arrested the man for defending his friend.

-PJ

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Mean? Heck, they can't read it so unless you tell 'em, how will they know? lol

Don't tell anyone but I have family in OK........

[Free Trapper]

All work and no play....take a break and read this one to lighten your load for a bit. :)

[Free Trapper]

Don't tell on "me" and you got a deal. :)

SHHHhhhh...Sawbones were workin' on me this last year in Plano and needed a little extra bone to fill in a spot or two.

Well,Texans never have been a stingy bunch...you know that...and I "really" appreciated the gift........but ever since...I keep buying hats that are way too big for me...and can't keep my pants up fer the weight of this here frying pan sized beltbuckle. :O}

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Gosh Mister, it sure is good to hear Texan spoken again........ Yo, here in Philly, youse dunt hear much about belt buckles......

[Eaker]

I have ten lil' buddies and ten friends ready to replace them.

Merry Christmas HC!!!

[GladesGuru]

This a perfect example of "one trial learning" is I may be forgiven a lapse into edu-speak.

Mr. Ratliff should be given an award as educator of the year in the catagory of "Fastest educatior with the shortest class.

[Eaker]

We had one from Ohio about a year back. One of the *Bang_list regulars.

And it worked out for once!!!!

[GladesGuru]

Good thing he is "not as stout as he once was" or he might have beaten the criminal to death with his own arm.