Biddeford woman ends standoff after 12 hours

BIDDEFORD – A woman surrendered to police early Monday morning after 12 hours of negotiations and firing off several rounds from a .357-caliber Magnum handgun.

Gail McCracken, 63, was arrested around 12:30 a.m. and charged with reckless conduct with a firearm and creating a police standoff. She was taken to Southern Maine Medical Center for evaluation.

Police spokeswoman Joanne Fisk said officers were sent to the residence around noon after police received calls from an out-of-state family member concerned about McCracken, who evidently had made a number of suicidal statements.

Neighbors near McCracken’s River Road home were evacuated, and officers cordoned off the area.

Police said she fired off five rounds from the handgun – two before police arrived and three from inside a bedroom with the gun pointed out the window during the negotiation.