Officer Who Fabricated Shooting to Face Charges

A part-time Millis officer who fabricated a story about a gunman shooting his cruiser is expected to face charges, Millis Police announced Friday.

Police identified the officer as 24-year-old Bryan Johnson, who has been fired from the department. He was a part-time officer hired in June who had been training to become full-time.

Charges are likely to include unlawful discharge of a firearm, misleading a criminal investigation, providing false information to emergency personnel and malicious destruction of property. He was originally expected to be arraigned Friday, but it is now likely to take place next week. He is expected to be arrested after leaving Norwood Hospital, where he is reportedly undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.

Johnson reportedly shot his own car Wednesday before crashing it off Forest Road in Millis, Police announced Thursday afternoon. The part-time officer’s cruiser then caught fire after crashing. Johnson reported that a man in a maroon pickup truck had fired the shots before speeding away. At the time, he was believed to be hiding in the woods surrounding the area.

The report prompted a massive manhunt, with local departments and state police searching Millis, Medfield and Norfolk with dozens of cruisers, ATVs and a helicopter. Area residents were ordered to shelter in place, leaving a community terrified that a gunman was on the loose. Schools in Millis were canceled Thursday while the manhunt continued.

Police on Wednesday responded to the area of Forest Road on Wednesday after Johnson reported a suspect fired shots at his cruiser. The cruiser had gone off the road and caught fire. Immediately after, police conducted a large search of the community but never found a suspect or a car connected to any suspect.

Millis Police stressed that there is no gunman and no danger to the public.