Libertarian North Carolina state Senate candidate Jonathan Miller was arrested Monday following an hours-long standoff with Cary police, who initially approached him after he posted online about intending to take his own life.
Miller, who is running in the state’s 16th Senate District, first attracted concern Sunday, October 25, when he posted a message from his campaign account on X saying he no longer wished to live and intended to end his life that evening. He added that he did not wish to speak with anyone and asked others not to contact him.
Within hours, his message attracted the attention of numerous figures within the Libertarian Party and beyond who attempted to offer support. While the post has since been removed, it was seen over a million times, and those who attempted to offer their help to Miller included former presidential nominee Chase Oliver, Ohio gubernatorial nominee Don Kissick, and New York Libertarian activist Larry Sharpe.
Miller followed up his initial message with several more posts the following day, Monday, October 26, claiming that police officers were pursuing him with firearms drawn. In another remark, he said that he was also armed and suggested that an encounter with responding officers could become violent.
Miller would continue responding to X users and sharing periodic updates throughout the day, with the last update coming around 2:00p ET, in which he indicated that police had closed in on him after speaking with a negotiator and that officers had dogs with them.
It later came out that during the pursuit, Miller contacted local media outlet WRAL several times to share his account of what happened. He reportedly told the station that while he had been struggling with suicidal thoughts the previous evening, he ultimately decided not to act on them. Miller also explained that he fled from police because he feared being taken into custody and hospitalized, expressing concerns about the quality of care he might receive.
According to WRAL, Cary police had been monitoring Miller’s statements and initially attempted to contact him Monday morning for a wellness check. Police Chief Terry Sult told the station that officers eventually encountered Miller carrying a firearm and ordered him not to touch it. Miller instead fled, resulting in a lengthy search before officers took him into custody around 3:00p ET. No shots were fired during the standoff, and nobody was injured.
In a later update, WRAL added that Miller was charged with communicating threats, resisting officers, and “going armed to the terror of the people.” Following those initial reports, WBTV, citing arrest warrants, also reported a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon. Miller was later taken to the Wake County Detention Center and was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon.
According to an interview he previously gave with the Tar Heel Libertarian, Miller first discovered the Libertarian Party in 1996 and was later motivated to take a more active role in 2020 after noticing a lack of Libertarian candidates on his ballot. He said he then reached out to the Wake County Libertarian Party about potentially running for office and began attending its weekly meetings, where he spent the following years learning more about state and local politics.
Miller is challenging Democratic incumbent Gale Adcock and Republican Philip Hensley in the November general election. His name will appear on the ballot.
Editorial note: Ford Fischer, a member of the board of directors of the Outsider Media Foundation, which publishes Independent Political Report, was among those who attempted to communicate with Miller and encourage a peaceful resolution during the incident.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or a mental health crisis, please seek support from someone you trust or a qualified mental health professional. You can also call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which offers free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
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