Davenport, Iowa – A 38-year-old man, Joshua Ragen, has been arrested in Davenport, Iowa, after allegedly attacking his 71-year-old grandfather with golf clubs and spraying wasp repellent into his wounds while holding him captive in the basement.
The suspect is facing multiple felony charges, including assault, false imprisonment, and willful injury.
The Disturbing Attack
On Monday, police responded to a domestic disturbance call at a home on Covington Drive in Davenport, located near the Illinois border. Upon arrival, officers discovered the elderly victim in the basement of the home, suffering from multiple injuries.
According to the arrest affidavit, the grandfather had cuts to his head and body, along with signs of blunt force trauma.
The victim told officers that his grandson, Joshua Ragen, had struck him multiple times with a golf club after first hitting him in the back of the head and pushing him over. The assault reportedly continued as Ragen repeatedly struck the elderly man in the head and body with the clubs.
Further Cruelty and Captivity
But the attack didn’t stop there. According to the affidavit, Ragen allegedly sprayed wasp repellent directly into his grandfather’s wounds while the victim was still on the floor of the basement. Ragen also reportedly told the victim that he was going to kill him and even threatened to electrocute him.
In an additional act of cruelty, Ragen disabled his grandfather’s phone to prevent him from calling for help and allegedly grabbed three firearms from the house.
Grandfather’s Injuries and Ragen’s Admission
The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for injuries to his face, ribs, and wrist, requiring stitches for the wounds on his head. After his arrest, Joshua Ragen reportedly admitted to attacking his grandfather with the golf clubs and spraying him with wasp repellent.
The motive for the violent attack remains unclear at this time, and the investigation is ongoing. Ragen has been charged with several felonies, including assault while participating in a felony, possession of firearms as a felon, and willful injury. He also faces misdemeanor charges for assault with intent, false imprisonment, and older individual assault.
Legal Proceedings and Bond
Ragen was arrested and booked into jail, where he is currently being held on a $25,000 secured bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on August 8th in Scott County court.
