Suspect allegedly had notebook with other church, school addresses
A North Carolina man arrested last weekend in a church parking lot with flamethrowers, crossbows and other weapons reportedly had a notebook listing addresses of other churches and schools in his truck.
William S. Milliken III, 44, was taken into custody Sunday morning after local police received a call at around 10:15 a.m. about an armed, camouflaged man sitting in his truck in the parking lot of Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in High Point, according to a statement from the High Point Police Department.
Police said an off-duty officer working at the church responded immediately, and other officers arrived within minutes, disarming Milliken and arresting him without incident.
Officers found several weapons and other items in Milliken’s truck, including a CO2-powered launcher designed to resemble a handgun, two flamethrowers, two crossbows, more than 500 rounds of ammunition, rolls of black duct tape, three knives and oxycodone pills. He was also wearing body armor at the time of his arrest, police said.
Democratic High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson said in a statement following Milliken’s arrest that authorities also found a notebook in his truck with addresses of other churches and schools, according to local Fox affiliate WGHP.
“Court documents also show he had a notebook with addresses of churches [and] schools, police scanners, body armor, and more in his truck. The docs also state he’s believed to have mental health issues,” Jefferson said.
“Most importantly, no one was hurt. Hundreds of people who had gathered to worship were able to return home safely to their families,” he continued, thanking the High Point Police Department and “community members who recognized that something wasn’t right and made the call to 911.”
“Their willingness to act reminds us that public safety is a shared responsibility,” he added.
Curtis, a neighbor of the church who did not want his last name published, told local ABC45 that the large police response was surreal.
“You always think stuff like that happens somewhere else and when it happens in your backyard or right by your house, you’re like, ‘that’s right there,'” he said.
“Anytime something like that happens, you always see the lights and think something is happening, you just hope it’s something that’s not a big deal. I guess it’s a little disturbing, just the fact that when you have a family and kids that live close by … it makes you feel more exposed,” he added.
Wesley Memorial Methodist Church also issued a statement expressing gratitude to law enforcement, according to the outlet.
“We want to let our church family know that law enforcement responded to an incident on our campus June 28, involving an individual who was taken into custody. Authorities have informed us there is no ongoing threat to our congregation,” they said.
“We are grateful for the quick response of the High Point Police Department and our security team. We remain committed to providing a safe environment for worship and ministry. Out of respect for the ongoing legal process, we will not comment further at this time.”
Milliken was booked in the Guilford County Jail under a $250,000 bond and charged with possession of a weapon of mass destruction, impersonation of a law enforcement officer and possession of a controlled Schedule II substance.
“Thanks to the quick action of our officers, a man armed with weapons was taken into custody before anyone was hurt,” High Point Police Chief Curtis Cheeks III said in a statement. “The officers prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating and helped ensure everyone attending church services could return home safely.”
Jon Brown is a reporter for The Christian Post. Send news tips to [email protected]
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