The Latest: Richmond detective shot, suspects arrested

RICHMOND, Ky. (WTVQ) – A Richmond police detective is in critical condition after he was shot in the head while investigating a robbery Wednesday morning.

According to a police report obtained by ABC 36 News, Detective Daniel Ellis was shot when he was searching a home on Ballard Drive in Richmond.

As police cars from different departments blocked intersections, an ambulance rushed the detective to University of Kentucky Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Raleigh Sizemore

State Police say the detective and another officer were investigating a lead in connection to an armed robbery at the Gulf gas station on Main Street in Richmond.

Police say, during the robbery, a witness was able to get a description of the car and relayed that to police. That led Ellis and the other police officer to Gregory Ratliff’s home on Ballard Drive.

Ellis was looking for Raleigh Sizemore and thought he might be inside Ratliff’s home, the police report says.

Gregory Ratliff

The report says as Sizemore pulled out a handgun and talked about spending half of his life in prison and not going back, he told Ratliff, “not to let them in or he would shoot him.”

Ratliff, Sizemore and another person, Rita Creech, were inside, the report says. Ratliff told police that Sizemore took Creech to the back bedroom with his gun. Ratliff then allowed Ellis to search the home and told him the detective there were no weapons in the home.

According to the report, Ellis began searching the home, but Ratliff never told him Sizemore or Creech were inside the home.

As Ellis started to walk into the bedroom, the report says, Sizemore fired the gun and shot Ellis in the head. The second officer returned fire, striking Sizemore multiple times.

Ratliff is charged with complicity to attempt murder of a police officer.

Sizemore was taken to University of Kentucky Hospital where he was treated and released into police custody. He was arrested and charged with attempted murder of a police officer and unlawful imprisonment.

Rita Creech was arrested and charged with robbery.

Rita Creech

State Police are still investigating and have called the Shooting Investigation Team to the scene.