A 38-year-old Iowa man, Joshua Ragen, is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly attacking his 71-year-old grandfather with golf clubs and spraying wasp repellent into his wounds. The assault occurred on Monday at a home in Davenport, Iowa, and Ragen has been arrested and held on a $25,000 bond.
The Disturbing Incident
Police were called to a home on Covington Drive in Davenport around 1:45 p.m. on Monday after receiving reports of a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, officers discovered the elderly victim in the basement, suffering from cuts to his head and body, as well as blunt force trauma.
The grandfather reportedly told authorities that his grandson, Joshua Ragen, had attacked him by hitting him in the back of the head, pushing him over, and then repeatedly striking him with golf clubs.
But the assault didn’t end there. According to the arrest affidavit, Ragen allegedly went further by spraying wasp repellent into his grandfather’s wounds while he lay injured on the floor.
He reportedly threatened to kill the victim and even mentioned plans to electrocute him. Ragen also disabled the elderly man’s phone to prevent him from calling for help and grabbed three firearms from inside the home.
Charges and Arrest
Joshua Ragen was arrested by officers and is facing several serious charges, including assault while participating in a felony, three counts of possessing a firearm as a felon, and willful injury—all felonies. He also faces misdemeanor charges for assault with intent, false imprisonment, and assault on an older individual.
Following his arrest, Ragen admitted to the assault and the use of wasp spray on his grandfather, but the motive behind the attack remains unclear. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of facial, rib, and wrist injuries, and required stitches to close wounds on his head.
Legal Proceedings
Ragen is currently being held in jail with a secured bond of $25,000. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for August 8 in Scott County court. As the investigation continues, the motive behind this violent attack remains a key question for authorities.
The shocking and violent nature of this crime has left the community in disbelief. Joshua Ragen’s alleged actions—attacking his elderly grandfather with golf clubs, wasp spray, and firearms—have raised serious concerns.
As legal proceedings move forward, the full details of why Ragen allegedly attacked his grandfather will likely come to light.
