Dramatic scene ends with peaceful arrest at North Dillons

By Adam Strunk

A dramatic scene unfolded in the North Dillons parking lot Wednesday night as police officers, with guns drawn, surrounded a vehicle to serve an arrest warrant to a man accused of domestic battery and criminal threat.

According to Lt. Jason Thompson of the Newton Police Department, the department conducted a weeks-long investigation into John Million, 49, Newton, on accusations that he committed aggravated domestic battery against a person as well as criminally restrained the same person.

Throughout the investigation, Thompson said police believed Million previously told others that he did not plan to be arrested peacefully and had a firearm.

Thompson said other witnesses in the case confirmed that Million also regularly carried a firearm.

He said a detective in plain clothes spotted Million at Dillons  and the department decided to make the arrest of the man as he was driving out of the store parking lot by pulling him over.
Thompson explained the reasoning was that if the warrant would be served in the man’s house, it might create a stand off situation, allow him to barricade himself and increase the risk of violence for responding officers. He also explained the arrest in the parking lot also was to prevent a possible chase.

Thompson said police arrested Million without additional incident and that he cooperated.

Thompson said there’s always some inherent risk in an arrest situation, but any time an officer draws their firearm, they are aware of their surroundings and any bystanders.

“We don’t always get to decide the location of the arrest,” Thompson said. “You play with the cards you’re dealt. It went about as good as can be expected.”

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