GREENFIELD — A man wanted on an attempted murder charge locked himself in a Greenfield home late Wednesday, leading police officers from across Central Indiana to block off a neighborhood in western Hancock County for more than six hours.
Local law enforcement surrounded a home in the 7000 block of West Meadow Lane in Greenfield on Wednesday night in an attempt to arrest Travis Woodruff, 34, of Indianapolis, who faces one count of attempted murder in Hendricks County, court records show.
The local SWAT team was called out around 9 p.m. Wednesday and stayed on scene until Woodruff came out of the home around 3 a.m. Thursday. Several homes in the subdivision, which sits on the Hancock County-Marion County line, were evacuated for the safety of neighbors, and officers from at least six area agencies rushed to the scene to assist.
Police believe Woodruff came to Hancock County to evade arrest after the warrant in Hendricks County was issued, though they do not know how long the man had been staying in the Greenfield home.
Woodruff is accused of shooting and injuring a hotel clerk during a recent robbery in Hendricks County, officers say. A warrant for the man’s arrest was issued earlier this month, record show. He also was wanted in Marion County on drug possession charges, officers said.
Investigators with a special Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department task force had been looking for Woodruff for the past month, Hancock County Sheriff’s Capt. Jeff Rasche said.
Hancock County officials were alerted around 8 p.m. Wednesday the suspect might be in Greenfield, and officers with several agencies visited the home on Meadow Lane hoping Woodruff would come quietly with police, Rasche said. The county’s SWAT team was called for backup around 9 p.m. when Woodruff wouldn’t come out, police said.
Woodruff was friendly with the granddaughter of the Greenfield homeowner, Rasche said. Sheriff’s department detectives are investigating whether the woman was helping Woodruff hide from police, he said; her name is being withheld pending an investigation.
Woodruff told the homeowners he did not want to go to jail, and he indicated that he would cause a struggle if police tried to arrest him, Sheriff Mike Shepherd said. The homeowner, whose name was not released, told investigators there were guns inside her home. She worried Woodruff would easily be able to access them, Shepherd said.
The SWAT team attempted to negotiate with Woodruff for more than six hours. Officers’ voices boomed through the neighborhood over a PA system, and a stun grenade — which creates a bang and flash of light meant to disorient suspects — was used to no avail, officials said.
Eventually, officers resorted to shooting tear gas into the home, forcing Woodruff to come out. Officers sicced a police dog on Woodruff when he still refused to cooperate, officials said.
Woodruff was taken to an Indianapolis hospital for treatment for minor dog-bite injuries. His is being held in a Marion County facility.
Rasche said Woodruff likely will face charges locally in addition to those he faces in Marion and Hendricks counties.
A car, which is believed to have been stolen, was found in the driveway of the home, Rasche said.