PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – A tense 20-minute negotiation ended in gunfire early Tuesday morning after a woman reportedly forced a confrontation with Pinellas County deputies.
Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy, acting as the lead investigator, described the incident at 2137 Capri Drive as a clear case of “suicide by cop.” The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Megan Ratcliffe, is currently in emergency surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa after being struck by a single bullet.
The chaos began just before 2:00 a.m. when deputies arrived at the home for an “unknown problem.” Ratcliffe claimed she had a handgun hidden inside her jacket, prompting deputies to retreat and call for backup…