Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Former rock singer arrested in Henderson

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Ronald Radke

A "hardcore fugitive rocker" - that's how the U.S. Marshal's office described Ronald Radke, though the title might not work anymore. He's no longer a fugitive, and as for being a hardcore rocker, well, that may depend on what kind of musical equipment they provide in the Nevada prison system.

Radke, 24, was arrested at 5:30 p.m., at Arroyo Grande Boulevard and Sunset Road in Henderson, according to the marshals' spokesman, Michael Picou,

Radke was the co-founder of hardcore punk band Escape the Fate. He pleaded guilty to battery with substantial bodily harm in January. He was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make restitution to the tune of almost $100,000.

But Radke failed to report to his probation officer, prompting the Nevada Department of Public Safety to team up with a local news station and broadcast his wanted status. Word came in that Radke was in Las Vegas, soliciting donations from fans, theoretically to re-form his band, according to the marshals' press release, which also noted:

"Law enforcement officers familiar with the investigation were doubtful all of the money would be used for this purpose, but suspected the money would be used to support his rock star lifestyle and previously known drug use while avoiding capture."

Radke's probation stemmed back to his involvement in a May 2006 fight that resulted in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Cook. Cook was feuding with a friend of Radke's, and was ultimately shot by friend of Radke's in a remote area of North Decatur Boulevard.

Radke is now in the Clark County Detention Center, which has interesting acoustics and might be a good place to play punk music if it wasn't a jail.

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