CLEARWATER — Two Pinellas County sheriff's deputies shot a woman after she said she was armed and pulled an object from her jacket that turned out to be a cordless drill, according to Clearwater police.
Meaghan Ratcliffe, 39, called 911 at 1:59 a.m. Feb. 3 from 2137 Capri Drive but was evasive with operators and hung up, police said. When deputies arrived, Ratcliffe told them she had a gun and warned them not to come closer while keeping her hands concealed in her jacket.
Deputies retreated about 100 feet and tried talking to her for 18 minutes, according to police. Ratcliffe then walked into the road toward the deputies, quickening her pace and ignoring their commands to stop, police said.
She rapidly pulled an object from her pocket in the darkness, police said. The two deputies opened fire, believing she was pulling a gun. Ratcliffe was struck once.
Deputies immediately began treating her, and she was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where she remained in surgery Tuesday, according to police.
Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy said Ratcliffe's statements to deputies, including "It ends tonight," suggest she intended to provoke law enforcement into shooting her.
The two deputies were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol. They were identified as Cpl. Gary Wilson, who has been with the sheriff's office since May 2007, and Deputy Alyson Extine, who has been with the agency since April 2014.