Indianapolis Cop Surrenders After 4-Hour Park Standoff

A distraught Indianapolis police officer toting Valentine's Day gifts kept a SWAT team at bay for more than four hours Tuesday at a Northside park before surrendering.

The standoff began about 8:30 a.m. at Tarkington Park, north of 39th Street between Illinois and Meridian streets. Traffic in the area was tied up for hours while a police negotiator, a pastor and family members tried to persuade officer Craig Ratcliff, 54, to give himself up, reports the Indy Star.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officials said the Northwest District patrolman went to the park after meeting his girlfriend earlier. Ratcliff surrendered at 1 p.m. and was placed in an ambulance that took him to Wishard Memorial Hospital for psychological evaluation and treatment.