Kara Berg, and Jill Disis

IndyStar

A week before March Ratney was accused of shooting at an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer's home and squad car, he told his parole officer that "you cops are the devil," according to court documents.

Days later, after Ratney was arrested, he threatened the IMPD officers walking him to Marion County Jail, saying they "better watch (their) a---s when I get out," according to court documents.

Now, Ratney, 27, is facing charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and criminal recklessness. Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said the prosecutor's office also could pursue a habitual offender enhancement because of Ratney's criminal record.

Meanwhile, the case drew a response from a state lawmaker, who said the legislature should consider creating a new criminal enhancement for these kinds of attacks against police officers.

Police say Ratney, wearing a T-shirt with the words "F--- the police" on one side and "Black Lives Matter" on the other, went to the home of an officer early Tuesday and fired more than a dozen shots at the officer's home and car. The officer, his wife and their child were unharmed.

The shooting came just days after a sniper shot and killed five Dallas police officers.

The prosecutor's office won't pursue an attempted murder charge because there isn't any indication that Ratney had the intent to kill the officer or his family, Curry said.

In order to charge Ratney with attempted murder, prosecutors would have to have proof that he knowingly or intentionally tried to kill the officer, Curry said.

"We can't file charges because we're mad at someone," Curry said at a news conference Thursday morning. "But it should be obvious, we won't tolerate attacks on our officers.

"We will vigorously prosecute this case."

If convicted, Ratney could face up to six years in prison for the criminal recklessness charge and up to 12 years for unlawful possession of a firearm, Curry said. The habitual offender enhancement could add up to six years to his sentence.

Prosecutors likely will have to nail down Ratney’s motive if they hope to land a harsh sentence, said Jack Crawford, an Indianapolis defense attorney and former Lake County prosecutor.

“They’re going to have to do a little more work on the evidence in this case to determine why this guy did this act,” he said. “Was he trying to kill cops like the shooter in Dallas? If you can present that to the judge, that’s a serious aggravating factor.”

The case also has drawn attention to how Indiana law allows prosecutors to pursue charges against people who threaten or harm police officers. Some charges, such as battery, allow the state to upgrade the charge to a more serious one if an on-duty officer is attacked. But the state’s criminal recklessness charge has no enhancements for when an officer is the target in any circumstance.

State Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, said he'd support a change to that law next session. Merritt said police are especially vulnerable to such attacks because many officers drive their marked cars home and can be easily identified as targets by those who wish to hurt them.

"This is a very good opportunity for us to demonstrate that we need to protect our law enforcement officers," Merritt told IndyStar on Thursday. "I would be very interested in legislation that protects our police officers at home, or at least sends a strong message to those who might attack a police officer and his or her family in their home."

At a news conference Thursday, IMPD Chief Troy Riggs said Tuesday's shooting marked the first attack on an officer at his home.

"When an officer is attacked, it's my belief that the city of Indianapolis is attacked," he said.

Police have recovered two handguns, 15 fired 9 mm casings, two unfired 9 mm rounds and a box of 9 mm ammunition from Ratney's house. An investigation is ongoing.

Black Lives Matter: A primer on what it is and what it stands for

Ratney was released from prison June 6 and was on parole after serving about six years of a 12-year sentence for being a serious violent felon in possession of a firearm, Indiana Department of Correction online records show.

His criminal background includes convictions for illegal handgun possession and battery. In 2010, he was charged with intimidation in connection with alleged threats to kill police officers and their families, court documents said. But the charge was dismissed when he pleaded guilty to gun charges.

In the 2010 case, Ratney was arrested after neighborhood residents called 911 to tell police he was riding a bike and firing a gun. Officers responded, and Ratney called them pigs and threatened them and their families, court documents said.

Because Ratney violated his parole, he might have to serve the remaining seven years of his sentence, Curry said.

Ratney's initial hearing in Marion Superior Court, originally set for Thursday, was rescheduled.

Man threatened to kill Indy officers' families, police say

IndyStar reporter Madeline Buckley contributed to this story.

Call IndyStar reporter Jill Disis at (317) 444-6137. Follow her on Twitter:@jdisis.

Call IndyStar reporter Kara Berg at (317) 444-6179 . Follow her on Twitter:@karaberg95.