Cop’s stun gun ends armed clash over dog
Staff writer
Peabody officer Megan Chizek had to act quickly Aug. 4 to take down a 42-year-old man who had let his anger over a dispute about a dog turn into an armed confrontation.
She managed to do so by using her stun gun on Mitchell W. McMillen, whom she arrested and loaded into the back of her squad car without having to wait for help from other officers on their way.
“Initially, Chizek had her gun out when she was getting out of the car,” police chief Bruce Burke said. “When she saw McMillen get rid of the gun, she holstered her weapon and pulled her Taser.”
Choosing to use a stun gun instead of her firearm was an appropriate decision, Burke said.
The incident began after an unnamed victim reported being physically abused and threatened during an argument about loose dogs, Burke said.
It was first reported at 7:40 p.m. Aug. 4 at 3rd and Vine Sts. in Peabody, according to police scanner reports.
“That doesn’t give you a reason to go threaten people, bring out a gun, and all that just because a dog ran across your property,” Burke said.
McMillen was arrested on suspicion of battery, making criminal threats, use of a deadly weapon, interfering with law enforcement, being a pedestrian under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and criminal damage to property.
McMillen’s gun was not used, Burke said.
McMillen has a history of involvement with Peabody police, Burke said.
“That’s going to always temper our decision-making process,” he said.
Bond was set at $20,000, with a court date of Aug. 12 in municipal court, and Aug. 26 in district court.