Police officers arrested a Libertarian candidate for the North Carolina Senate on Monday after an hourslong armed standoff with the aspiring politician.
Jonathan Miller faces several charges in connection with the incident that started with suicidal threats on social media and later included an interview with a local news station.
The suspect said he posted a suicide note on X that went viral late Sunday and caught the attention of local residents who reported it to the police in Cary, North Carolina. When an officer arrived for a welfare check the following morning, Miller had a firearm on his body. The officer ordered Miller to keep his hands away from the weapon, but he refused to listen and ran away.
“They have been chasing me since this morning,” he told WRAL. “They’re not very good at it. They really probably should get some more training on tracking somebody down.”
Authorities eventually apprehended Miller around 3 p.m. Monday. The incident didn’t involve gunfire, and nobody was injured in the standoff.
Interestingly, Miller posted about his movements on social media as the situation unfolded.
“The whole police department is chasing me with guns drawn. This should be fun,” he wrote before suggesting he may fire back. “I’ve got six shots and the high ground. I hope they don’t find me, but if they do it’s going to be a hell of a show.”
About four hours later, he provided an update.
“F*** they almost got me,” Miller said. “They had some hostage negotiator type dude call me. While I was distracted talking with him on the phone they were moving in around me. Luckily I spotted one of them and took off. **** that was close. I really should have brought some water.”
His last message said: “I f***ed up and talked to the negotiator on the phone long enough for them to box me in. They have dogs so I’m probably done for.”
Throughout the saga, 2024 Libertarian presidential nominee Chase Oliver urged Miller to turn himself in to authorities.
“Stop what you are doing and announce where you are and drop the gun,” Oliver posted. “Please stop. Folks want you to live.”
The comment prompted a response from Miller.
“I don’t think they pursued me very far,” he said. “I stopped looking back for a while once I hit the tree line. They should have caught up to me by now but they haven’t, so I’m guessing they’re standing guard by my apartment. I’m never going back there so that doesn’t really matter.”
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Following the man’s arrest, Cary Police Chief Terry Sult thanked WRAL for speaking with Miller on the phone.
Miller and Republican candidate Philip Hensley are running for North Carolina State Senate District 16, represented by Democratic state Sen. Gale Adcock, in the general election.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
