Denver Man Convicted Of Assaulting Police Officers

A man who shot at police officers when they tried to stop him last July has been convicted of assault but acquitted of attempted murder. Darius Ratcliff was shot in the abdomen during the exchange.

It was July 31, 2016, on the 3300 block of North Olive Street when officers tried to stop Ratcliff because the car he was in matched the description of one from a shooting earlier.

Ratcliff fled but was found nearby where he opened fire. One of the officers returned fire, striking him.

At the time of his arrest at the time of the shooting, including warrants for first degree murder, burglary, and attempted murder, as described in the charges below. (For more information on this and other local stories, subscribe to your local Patch for breaking news alerts.)

He also faces charges of first degree murder, attempted murder, first degree assault, and one count second degree assault. Those are in connection with a shooting on November 6, 2015, in the 100 block of S. Bannock Avenue that left one dead and several injured.

Ratcliff is also charged with burglary and criminal mischief in connection with the burglary of a marijuana dispensary on June 3, 2016, in the 4000 block of Jackson Street and counts of attempted assault, and menacing in connection with a shooting on September 27, 2015, in the 3300 block of N. Colorado Boulevard.

There's also an escape charge connected to his fleeing custody on September 23, 2016 as he was being brought from jail to Denver Health Medical Center. He was captured moments later.

He's back in court in September for his next trial.

Photo Denver District Attorney's Office