VIDEO: Senator Miller Admits to Cranston Police He Keyed Family's Car

VIDEO: Senator Miller Admits to Cranston Police He Keyed Family's Car

The Cranston Police Department has released the arrest report charging State Senator Josh Miller with vandalism.

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The report shows that Miller first denied, then admitted, to keying a small family SUV.

The occupants were a dad, mom, and little girl who had gone to Garden City. 

Miller told police he was "threatened" by who he thought was a "gun nut" - and finally argued that the victim "basically dared him" to key his car. 

Cranston Police on Friday released body camera footage of officers responding to the scene, as well as Miller's residence (seen above).

The victim was in a truck with a woman and a child. 

"It should be noted, at no time did I observe [the victim] make contact or appear to say anything to Miller prior to him observing the scratch on his vehicle. Nor did it appear that [the victim] had blocked Miller at any point in between the vehicles as he had previously stated," said the reporting officer. "Furthermore, [the vicitm's] story remained consistent as seen on surveillance where as Miller's recollection was not observed as he had stated it took place."

"On behalf of Joshua Miller, there will be no comment in his matter until court proceedings are concluded," said Miller's attorney John MacDonald in a statement on Friday. 

 

Cranston Police Report

Diaz' report states the following -- the victim's name has been redacted. 

"Upon my arrival, I met with reporting party [REDACTED] whom was standing in the parking lot. He states he returned to his vehicle parked in the center of the parking lot near Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. He explained while in close proximity to his vehicle, when he heard what sounded like a scratching noise coming from the passenger side. 

Upon checking he observed a large scratch on his passenger side rear door and a male, later identified as Joshua Miller, quickly walking away, holding keys in his right hand and gripping a single key which he says was pointing towards his vehicle. [REDACTED] states he asked Miller if he had just keyed his vehicle, to which Miller stated "no" and quickly walked away never making eye contact with him. 

[REDACTED] states the damage was not there prior to parking his vehicle. [REDACTED] stated he did not know of Miller and upon observing a sticker on Miller's bumper, reading "re-elect Josh Miller", he checked online and observed a picture of what possibly looked like Miller. 

[REDACTED] described Miller as a shorter, older, white male with glasses, wearing a suit jacket. Shortly after [REDACTED], the owner of the vehicle, arrived on scene and completed a statement expressing his desire to press charges on the individual responsible. [REDACTED] completed a statement on his observations.  

I then inspected the area where the Nissan had been vandalized and observed a single long scratch marking on the rear passenger door, consistent with that of a car being "keyed".

The scratch appeared to be fresh as paint residue and very small paint chips could be observed near the marking. [REDACTED] then advised he needed to leave and would returned to the scene if need be. 

The area was then checked for Miller however he could not be located. Approximately two hours later I observed a male matching the description given by [REDACTED] entering the vehicle, however without a suit jacket. I then activated my overhead lights and sirens and conducted a motor vehicle stop in the area of the GAP clothing store in Garden City. 

I asked the driver to step out of the vehicle to which he complied and later identified as Miller. I advised Miller that he was currently being detained as I was investigating a crime.  Without having shared any information with Miller, he immediately stated "was it the maniac yelling at me in the car next to me" at which point I advised, the reporting party was not inside the car, but did attempt to speak with you. 

Miller further stated "he was blocking my way, saying I keyed his car, I did not key his car. I'm a state senator, I think he recognized me, I think he's one of those gun nuts. He called out my name, I never gave him my name" I further explained the other party involved, stated other wise. I further elaborated on the incident with Miller to which he stated "he called out my name and I was worried he was one of the gun nuts who stalks me from the state house, so I kept walking". I then advised Miller a supervisor was responding out to the scene. 

A short time after, Lt Dygon responded out to the scene. He advised to have [REDACTED] respond back to the scene to attempt identify Miller as the person her had confronted about vandalizing his vehicle. Lt Dygon then meet with Miller and advised him that the incident was being further investigated and the property had surveillance cameras that would be checked. Miller then advised that he had been stalked in the past by what he called "gun nuts" and needed to have police patrol his neighborhood on a daily basis. 

Lt Dygon then asked if he recognized [REDACTED] as being one of the "gun nuts" from the past to which Miller states "I thought he called my name, I thought he said, hey Miller, did you key my car? because I thought he was one of those guys that stalked me, I kept walking". I then asked Miller, if he was afraid why did he not call the police himself, to which he stated, "thats a good question, I don't know." Afterwards, Lt Dygon asked to inspect Miller's keys to which he allowed, however no paint residue was observed on his keys and were returned without issue.  

A short time after, [REDACTED] responded back to the scene and positively identified Miller as being the person her had confronted about keying his vehicle. While on scene I asked [REDACTED] if he was sure he did not recognize Miller from anywhere or if he had known that Miller was a state senator to which he advised he has never seen him before nor did he know any politician besides the Mayor.  Shortly after Miller was allowed to leave the scene. 

A short time later I responded to the Garden City Management Office and met with Property Manager [REDACTED] whom allowed me to view surveillance footage of the incident.  

While viewing surveillance video, I observed Miller on camera #10, at approximately 03:31:33pm, drive into the parking lot area in his Honda Ridgeline, where he occupies a parking spot to the right of the Nissan Pathfinder.  He is observed exiting his vehicle and standing in between his Ridgeline, and the Pathfinder, until approximately 03:33:24pm, where he is then seen walking away in a wary manner prior to any direct contact with [REDACTED]

At the same time, [REDACTED] is seen approaching from the eastern side of the parking lot, and as he gets in close proximity to his vehicle, appears to say something to Miller forcing Miller to turn his body back in the direction of [REDACTED} as he was nearly on Hillside Rd. 

It should be noted, at no time did I observe [REDACTED] make contact or appear to say anything to Miller prior to him observing the scratch on his vehicle. Nor did it appear that [REDACTED] had blocked Miller at any point in between the vehicles as he had previously stated. Furthermore, [REDACTED] story remained consistent as seen on surveillance where as Miller's recollection was not observed as he had stated it took place. 

Moreover, while returning to his vehicle, Miller walked and observed passed my patrol vehicle which sat in plain view, directly in front of his vehicle, to the south. Miller is observed walking north, two entire rows passed his vehicle, where he is then observed walking into the center of the lot and finally back south towards his vehicle, however, in between vehicles, attempting to avoid detection. It should be noted that my patrol vehicle was in plain view the entire time. 

Furthermore, due to Miller not having his jacket on, the surveillance system was then reviewed to check if he had potentially gotten rid of the jacket on purpose. Miller was observed returning to his vehicle on camera #10, at approximately 05:21:49pm and the video surveillance was back tracked and is as follows: 

I then responded to Whole Foods Market and meet with Store Manager [REDACTED] whom allowed me to review store surveillance footage. At approximately 1652hrs Miller is observed entering Whole Foods where he is seen taking his jacket off and placing it into a shopping basket. At approximately 1703hrs, Miller enters the self-checkout area where is seen paying for his items and placing them into a paper bag, then placing his jacket into the paper bag on top of the items. He is then observed taking the bag and walking out of Whole Foods Market at 1705hrs. 

Based upon the totality of the circumstances, enough probable cause existed to charge Miller with the vandalism to [REDACTED]'s vehicle. I then responded to Miller's residence along with Major Patalano to have Miller turn himself in. 

While at Miller's residence Major Patalano informed Miller that [REDACTED] wished to pursue charges. Miller stated "he was threatening me already" to which Major Patalano advised there was video surveillance which we had watched. Major Patalano asked Miller, how was he being threatening as the video had no audio, to which Miller states, "As soon as I opened my door he said, hey Miller, what are you gonna do? He had already started on me as soon as I opened my door". Major Patalano then asked him which guy had stated those comments, as there were two males in the video, to which Miller stated he did not know. 

At one point while speaking with Major Patalano, Miller states "I thought he had threatened me, I thought he was one of the gun nuts that stalked me before". Major Patalano then ask Miller why would he key the vehicle if he felt threatened to which Miller stated "Because he was daring me to basically". Miller was then asked to turn himself in at the Cranston Police Department. 

A short time later, Miller responded to the Cranston Police Headquarters Lobby and turned himself in. He was fingerprinted, photographed and read his rights before attempting to collect an official statement from him of his recollection, to which he declined to provide one. A short time later a Justice of the Peace arrived and arraigned Miller. 

All four sides of the vehicles were taken and photographic evidence was uploaded to the M Drive. Miller was charged with VANDALISM/MALICIOUS INJURY TO PROPERTY in violation of RIGL 11-44-1."