A Massachusetts police department accused one of its own officers on Thursday of lying about an assailant shooting his patrol car, causing him to spin into a tree and catch fire.
The bizarre incident took place on Wednesday when the 24-year-old part-time officer from Millis, Massachusetts reported that a man in a pickup truck fired at him, according to CNN.
By Friday, he was identified as Bryan Johnson and his story had unraveled, the Boston Globe reported.
“We have determined that the officer’s story was fabricated,” acting Millis Police Chief William Dwyer told CNN.
He told the Globe that the officer will not be getting special treatment. He also said the officer will be fired, but is currently on paid administrative leave.
“It’s hard for me personally. Bryan was a friend, and when this is all over, I wish him the best,” Dwyer said.
The Globe went to an address in Millis for the officer and was refused comment. “You guys need to leave, and leave now, please,” a man at the home told the newspaper.
MassLive.com reported Thursday that the state fire marshal was investigating the cause of the fire.
Oh come now!
We “All Know” that this was a conspiracy by the Obummer Justice Dept to commit a “terrorist act” in league with those commie/pinko/radical “Black Lives Matter” protesters to undermine the heroic White Police Officers.
I know 'cause I read it over on Redstate.com.
I don’t see where the PD has just “accused” him. The statement from the PD says it has been “determined”. There has been a warrant issued for his arrest, and he will face at least 4 criminal charges - misleading a criminal investigation, communicating false information to emergency services, malicious destruction of property, and unlawful discharge of a firearm. He will be arraigned Tuesday.
Not only that, further investigation is underway, including a bomb threat called in to a middle school a few hours earlier. He may face more charges, as he should.
There are unconfirmed reports that he was texting while driving and then made up the story of getting into a shooting with a white man.
Ah, nothing like another inspiring story about our fine Men in Blue with a Job to Do!
Those “unconfirmed reports” appear to be false. According to the Boston Herald:
"After several interviews with investigators, Johnson allegedly admitted to driving his police cruiser into the woods and firing three rounds into it Wednesday afternoon before crashing it into a tree and claiming to have come under attack by a man in a maroon pickup truck, court documents show…
“Dwyer also said Johnson’s phone was destroyed in the fire and police are trying to recover any pertinent information from the device but there was no indication that he had been texting and driving.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/herald_bulldog/2015/09/police_millis_cop_behind_hoax_undergoing_psych