Docs: Officer arrested after stalking ex-girlfriend

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Thirty charges have been lodged against an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer after police say he stalked a woman over a period of seven months.

Officer Craig Ratcliff was arrested Thursday morning on the charges. Ratcliff is accused of stalking and battering his ex-girlfriend.

The situation came to a head on Valentine’s Day when Ratcliff drew his gun on the woman and prompted a SWAT situation at Tarkington Park , near 38th and Illinois streets, according to court documents. The situation peacefully ended and Ratcliff was taken to a hospital.

But problems with the girl had been developing for months.

While Ratcliff and the woman were no longer together, he sent her text messages and made phone calls she said she didn’t want, according to the probable cause affidavit. Police records indicate he also did detailed background checks on the woman using police software, in order to track down her address.

From October 2011 to December 2011, Ratcliff repeatedly waited outside the woman’s workplace for her, and she often left in the evening, she told police. Often, he was in his IMPD patrol car and wearing an IMPD uniform.

In October, he sent six flower arrangements to the woman at work in a 17 day period, despite her urging him to stop. The deliveries continued with two in November and another in early December, court documents say. The December flowers were delivered in person by Ratcliff, and when the woman confronted him he reportedly said she was “his lady.”

Ratcliff proposed marriage to the woman in early January, and she declined the offer. After the Valentine’s Day incident, the woman got a protective order against Ratcliff.

In the months that followed the protective order, Ratcliff continually called her, sent her text messages and left voice mails saying he had married her in a spiritual wedding, the probable cause affidavit said.

An initial court date for Ratcliff had not been set as of Thursday afternoon. IMPD placed him on administrative leave without pay.