An Aztec man believed to be at the center of a July 7 courthouse lockdown is facing a charge of false imprisonment, a fourth-degree felony, related to a separate incident.
William Johnston, 55, was charged in connection to a June 27 incident at a home on County Road 2482 in Aztec.
Johnston reportedly arrived at the home to speak to his fiancé. When she refused, he “asked if she was willing to pray with him,” according to the affidavit for arrest warrant.
The woman agreed and allowed Johnston to enter the home, at which time he reportedly pulled a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun from his waistband and “held the muzzle to his head,” the affidavit said.
Johnston reportedly was “agitated,” but also “in control the whole time,” the affidavit said.
He cried and stated he was “going to die,” according to the affidavit for arrest warrant.
The woman told investigators she “feared he would shoot her then himself,” the affidavit said.
She had no way to leave the room because Johnston reportedly stood between her and the door while “holding the firearm to his head,” the affidavit said.
Eventually, Johnston left the residence, and the woman heard “one round discharge outside,” the affidavit said.
She contacted a friend through text messaging and that friend told her to run to her vehicle and leave the property.
Outside, she reportedly found Johnston seated on the steps of his fifth wheel, at which time, he allegedly told her not to call the police or he would shoot at them, the affidavit said.
The woman left the property and filed for a restraining order the next day.
When District Judge Brad Dalley issued a 20-year restraining order against Johnston on July 7, the man reportedly put a note on the woman’s car windshield saying he would “always” love her. Then, he proceeded to message her on social media, according to the affidavit for arrest warrant for the charge of violating a restraining order.
When Johnston saw his former fiancé walking outside the courthouse with a sheriff’s deputy, he reportedly pulled out a gun and walked around threatening to shoot himself. Then, he got inside of his car and threatened to shoot himself, the affidavit said.
That led to the courthouse and nearby San Juan County buildings to be placed on lockdown, and New Mexico 516 to be closed for nearly three hours.
Johnston lost his job as a San Juan County Detention Center officer after the incident.
Johnston was arrested July 13 and released the next day into Pretrial Services.
A preliminary examination has been scheduled at 8:30 a.m. July 23 in Aztec Magistrate Court.
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