Standoff with 'distraught' officer ends peacefully

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Members of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department SWAT team were called in to negotiate with one of their own Tuesday morning.

IMPD officials say they initially responded to Tarkington Park, at 39th and Illinois streets, for a domestic dispute Tuesday around 8:15 a.m.

"It was like a movie scene unfolding. Command post, and SWAT and snipers. Just an overwhelming police presence," said Rick Apple, who owns an auto repair shop across from the park.

Officers arrived to find a “distraught” on-duty IMPD officer at the center of the situation. The officer spent much of the morning pacing back and forth in the snow while speaking with a negotiator and family members on a telephone.

Around 1 p.m., the officer put his weapon down and surrendered to the awaiting SWAT team members.

"You could see him get down on his knees," Apple said. "I think they were giving him the ultimatum, and they drove up in one of the armored vehicles with the turret tops, and soon as they showed that present, he gave up."

The officer, whose name has not been released, was taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital for evaluation.

IMPD said the situation was particularly difficult to handle knowing the armed man was one of their own.

"It is in the back of their mind it is another officer, but they are trained. And they have a job to do. And they were able to do that job," said IMPD spokesman Anthony Schneider.
 

Illinois Street, Meridian Street and Capitol Avenue were all closed between 38th and 40th streets while officers handle the situation. Indianapolis Public Schools' School No. 43 was on lockdown as a result of the situation.

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