Fired Mass. Officer Charged in Shootout Hoax

Sept. 4, 2015
Millis Police Officer Bryan Johnson allegedly fabricated a story in which a gunman fired at his cruiser before it crashed into a tree and burst into flames.

A Millis, Mass. police officer who was fired after allegedly fabricating a story in which a gunman fired at his cruiser before it crashed into a tree and burst into flames is being charged.

Watch the Video

Sgt. William Dwyer said the only ballistics evidence recovered at the scene was from shots fired by rookie Officer Bryan Johnson into his own cruiser, according to WCVB-TV.

"We have determined that the officer's story was fabricated, specifically that he fired shots at his own cruiser as part of a plan to concoct a story that he was fired upon," Dwyer told reporters.

A motive for the fabrication wasn't immediately clear and Johnson was undergoing a psychiatric evaluation Friday.

The 24-year-old will be charged in Wrentham District Court with misleading a criminal investigation, communicating false information, unlawful discharge of a firearm and malicious destruction of property.

The former dispatcher was hired in June as a part-time officer and was scheduled to begin training as a full-time officer.

"I know there is something wrong," Dwyer said. "He was a good police officer, he was a good person, he was a good dispatcher. He was a person I thought would've been an excellent police officer. Something did go wrong and probably in later days we will know exactly what that is."

Sponsored Recommendations

Build Your Real-Time Crime Center

March 19, 2024
A checklist for success

Whitepaper: A New Paradigm in Digital Investigations

July 28, 2023
Modernize your agency’s approach to get ahead of the digital evidence challenge

A New Paradigm in Digital Investigations

June 6, 2023
Modernize your agency’s approach to get ahead of the digital evidence challenge.

Listen to Real-Time Emergency 911 Calls in the Field

Feb. 8, 2023
Discover advanced technology that allows officers in the field to listen to emergency calls from their vehicles in real time and immediately identify the precise location of the...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Officer, create an account today!