Sept. 29,2009 Case of Yacht Theft Solved, Arrest Made

Posted on: Friday, September 11, 2009
Case of Yacht Theft Solved, Arrest Made
GalvestonCountyPoliceNews.

Com

In August Officers of the GPD Patrol Division were dispatched to the Galveston Yacht Basin to investigate the theft of a 31 foot Wellcraft Scarab fishing boat valued at over $150,000. There were initially no leads in the case.

A week later the boat was recovered by the Texas City Police Department. And had been stripped and abandoned.

It was later discovered video surveillance cameras at the Galveston Yacht Basin had captured the theft. This video footage fueled the investigation which led to the development of a suspect in the case.

Further investigation led to the identification of Christopher Ratliff as the person believed to be responsible for the theft. The Galveston County District Attorney's Office accepted charges in this case and an arrest warrant was issued for Ratliff.

Today Christopher Ratliff surrendered himself to the Galveston Police Department on charges of Theft a first degree felony punishable by up to life in prison. Ratliff's bond was set at $100,000.

As lead investigator, Detective John Blackwell is credited with developing leads and bringing about the solution to this crime and the arrest of the perpetrator. The Galveston County Auto Crimes Task Force assisted in the investigation which is continuing.

Additional arrest may be forthcoming.
BEFORE :



AFTER :

August 5,2009

August 4,2009 August 4 Ran a Jetty trip out half day, Fisherman, Everything that hit they brought in actually had to start thrwoing back bullreds, and the slots was a fun trip.August 5,2009 Jetty Trip for 6 people busy 1/2 day finally seems the bay trips are better than offshore right now unless you make about a 75 mile run. On the jetty trips i am bringing in slot reds,bullreds,shark from 5 1/2' to 6 ' seems the normal, also bringing in spotty red snapper inshore,trout specs and sand, scattered spanish mackeral

August 3,2009

August 3,2009 Had a family of 7 for Monday which we had to split up into 2 trips the ladies did a jetty and the guys went for red snapper. First time I have ever done a trip where we hit dock split up and went back out to let the rest fish. Bascially a statewater trip is what we ran having 18" snapper keepers at the reef and bonnet head sharks and Bullreds at the jetties. Travis's mom did managed a 6' blacktip got to the boat and when Randy hit the gaff that was all she wrote that shark was green and came alive breaking the line. On this trip we used 40 lb. test not my usuall 80 lb. Lynn is posting photo's. No doubt these people were fisherpeople and could feel the bite thanks everyone Randy and I really enjoyed having you guys onboard.

August 8,2009

Aug 7,2009

Offshore up to 50 miles bringing in spotty catch's at best think the water temp has really started to chase the fish bringing in red snapper, a few spanish mackeral,spotty kings no ling or mahi.

Aug 8,2009

Offshore up to 50 again still about the same thing and i fished Freeport area I checked out all my best spots the only thing I can think of is the fish have made a deep run now. Checked with Dan after he made a 75 mile run he brought in 20 lb snapper with only 1 king nothing else. So with this being One of the hottest summers on record I believe the fish have took a sabaticle and ran deep.Lindsey Thanks so much Lynn was beaming when I got in last night about her flowers. Just so everyone knows what is going on Lynn helped her family get a last minute trip with a excellent captain she has gave them a great short run trip for snapper and kings just in time to make it to their ballgame back in Houston so Lindsey Baker thank you very much you made my wife's year that much better, I always thank her for all she does but, your gesture was just perfect. Thank you very much Capt.Bill

August 2,2009

July 26,2009 Not sure what was going on with the fish on sunday they just weren't biting like that have been came in with a 6' shark caught off the shrimpers limit of kingfish biggest being 25 lbs and 3 keeper snapper. got back to dock and even the fish cleaning table was dry so i guess it turned into a a good day. No ling were sighted or found. August 2,2009 Been having alot of trips this week for the jetties and Deep out to 70 miles out. On the jetty trips we have been bringing in some decent specks,and sand trout,and slot reds, Bullreds are picking up and biting pretty good also. Out deep I have been bring in some big kingfish,limits of nice snapper up to 18lbs and some nice 6' blacktip shark. The water has started to heat up more than normal on the 50 mile trips all the mahi are at the tidal rips out about 62 miles and when have sure been bringing in nice limits of them last trip we boated about 80 chicken dolphin. Ling are out deep I am guessing the water temp has so much to do this and come sept this fishing should be better closer in at 50 miles. We have been hitting the shrimpers and banging the fish when we can get through the sharks. Blackfin are holding out about 80 miles so are the big wahoo up to 100 lbs.

June 22,2009

June 22,2006

The bay has finally heated up did a whole lot of catch and release really nothing to keep/ Caught gafttop shark too small to keep redfish just nothing to bring to dock.

June 23,2009
captain jesse had a group of 5 go for redfish slots and speckled trout he hit another area and loaded up.
Workingman Charters

June 20-21,2009

June 20,2009

Had two half day trips One produced redfish and lots of baby sharks I have never seen so many baby sharks all different kinds, scallops,hammerhead,blacktip all small. You can really tell now though that the morning bite is the best right now The bay waters are really starting to heat . The second part of the day was hard fishing as the sun had time to bake us all Had a great bunch of people both trips The kiddo got his redfish and reeled it in all by his self. It was great to see that.

June 21,2009

Had a very nice group of people owners of Aztec communications Happy fathers day Rudy. Sunday was pretty hard fishing I believe for all the boats out hardly saw anyone picking up fish. Luckily never a empty cooler on my boat trips we boated a few speckled trout and 1 Bullred missed a good one would have been 42" at least spit the hook at the boat. Again lots of shark everywhere.
What a great Time !!
MasterCaptain Bill Curry
Workingman Charters
Deep Sea Fishing Galveston,Texas
Galveston bay Fishing Guides

June 15-17,2009

June 15,2009

Everyone ran jetty and bay trips the catch ranged from Basically the same thing. Catch's were slot reds full limits,8 Bullreds no one limited but, each boat brought in some nice fish,speckled trout and spanish mackeral are everywhere brought in full limits of spanish mackeral from each boat.

June 17,2009 had Captain Bill and Captain Jesse out at the jetties today might bit choppy in the am but, seemed to smooth out around 10:00am Captain Bill had 4 people and brought in spanish mackeral,4 Bullreds,gaftop,2 sand trout. While capatin Jesse brought in speckled trout a few mangrove snapper and a 2 person limit of slot reds up to 24".

June 12,2009

June 12,2009

Captain Bill had 2 very nice people at the jetties a guy and girl now these were some good fisherman could feel the bite on most anything you put them on right left the dock around 2:00pm and out they went not more than 40 minutes after stopping BAM 2 bullreds. Guess all the boats at the jetties have scared them out but, he found them lots of them catching and releasing until Chanci got a HUGE ray hooked uped she fought this ray nearly 3 hrs. before tiring out and letting her hubby take the rod tied to the cleat and ried to get it off the bottom to no avail and snap the fight was over.Caught alot of sharks spinners and blacktips but, only 1 keeper just over legal size for the federal size. Chanci is sending me photos so as soon as I get these i will post it up. Thank you Chanci lynn..
Workingman Charters

Pictures from Hurricane Ike

Here is a collection of pictures of what Hurricane Ike did to Galveston. This Hurricane was compared to the 1900 storm because of the damage. Ike is now a thing of the past that will always remain in the backs of our mind. Galveston Has all the glory it has always had Thanks to many volunteers and Hard Workingmen that came from Thousands of miles away for Texas is very grateful for all your help..Below is also pictures of when Bill and I went to Foley,Alabama to visit my dad and we got to visit the area around Orange beach,Ft. Morgan,Perdido beach, and all parts in between. I gotta say i have never seen so much white sand in 1 place. I did get to see the concrete house and it was amazing.

Hurricane Ivan
ALABAMA - FLORIDA-MISSISSIPPI