Court: Argument with ex-girlfriend preceded standoff with armed man in Worcester neighborhood

Craig S. Semon, Telegram & Gazette
Updated ·2 min read
1
There was a heavy police presence at the apartment building on Cutler Street, after Jonathan Luga ran into the building with a gun.
There was a heavy police presence at the apartment building on Cutler Street, after Jonathan Luga ran into the building with a gun.

WORCESTER – A local man accused of waving a loaded gun and pointing it at police and bystanders is being held without bail after his arraignment in Central District Court.

Hours before a standoff with police on Cutler Street in the Union Hill neighborhood of the city, Jonathan R. Luga allegedly refused to let an ex-girlfriend leave his home for several hours, according to court records. When she was finally allowed to leave, Luga refused to give her phone back to her, saying he was concerned that she would call the police, according to the statement of facts written Officer Jose Ortiz.

Luga also threatened his ex-girlfriend by saying he was going to shoot if she said anything as they passed a police officer doing his rounds in the neighborhood, according to the statement of facts.

Later in the afternoon, Luga was seen running on Dorchester Street and pointing the unlicensed firearm in multiple directions, with police Sgt. Timothy Watts and bystanders nearby, the statement of facts said.

The suspect eventually locked himself in the porch of a Cutler Street apartment house. He remained there for approximately two hours, with a police tactical unit outside. During the standoff, Luga pointed the gun in the direction of Officer Bruce Carter, according to the statement of facts.

About 2:30 p.m., after talking to a negotiator, Luga dropped the gun and was taken into custody.

Luga is charged with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, witness intimidation, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without license, carrying ammunition without a FID card and a firearm violation with three prior violent/drug crimes (including assault with a dangerous weapon; armed robbery, and masked and armed robbery).

Luga will be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing Friday. A not guilty plea was entered during his arraignment in Central District Court Monday.

More Worcester standoff ends after 13 hours; suspect in custody

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Court: Argument with ex preceded standoff with armed man in Worcester