Democrat Josh Miller has served in Rhode Island’s state Senate since 2007. He once chaired the powerful Senate Committee on Corporations.
He was arrested earlier this month for allegedly keying the car of a political rival because of their bumper sticker.
The police department in Cranston said in a press release that they’d charged Miller with vandalism.
The car owner, still unidentifed, reportedly recognized the vandal as Josh Miller after seeing a “Re-Elect Senator Josh Miller” sticker on the vandal’s car. According to the Reporter, the victim Google-searched “Senator Josh Miller” and immediately saw a photo of the vandal’s exact likeness.
According to police photos, the car was displaying a “BIDEN SUCKS” sticker.
The police department said in a press release —
The vehicle’s owner and passenger stated that they parked near the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream store and walked away from the vehicle to shop. They stated that when returning to their vehicle, they heard a loud scratching noise consistent with someone keying a vehicle. He observed a male standing on the passenger side of his vehicle walk away quickly, holding a keychain and gripping a single key. The passenger then observed a lengthy scratch on the side of the SUV that he was sure was not there before he parked at the location.
The passenger then asked the man, later identified as Joshua Miller, if he had just “keyed” his vehicle. Miller denied he was responsible and quickly walked away…
On June 22, 2023, at approximately 3:39 PM, a Patrol Officer was dispatched to a call in the Garden City Shopping Center regarding a SUV reportedly vandalized at this location.
Miller reportedly denied the charges at first, and he claims to have interpreted the car owner as a threatening presence.
“Is it the maniac that yelled at me in the car next to me? He was blocking my way, saying I scratched his car. I didn’t scratch his car,” Miller reportedly told police two hours later, after being asked about his interaction with the car owner.
“I am a state senator. I think he recognized me. I think he is one of those gun nuts.”
However, police say that they later confronted Miller with footage from a security camera. At this point, the police obtained a confession from the state senator.
Following the misdemeanor charge, Miller was released on $1,000 personal recognizance. He’s set to appear in court on July 18 for re-arraignment.
“Nobody is above the law,” the police chief said in a statement.
The incident was first reported by Gene Valicenti of an NBC News affiliate.
Take a look at some clips obtained by local media —
Surveillance video shows the moments Senator Josh Miller is accused of keying an SUV with an anti-Biden sticker at Garden City
He first tells Cranston PD he didn't do it, then when they show up at his house and say they have video, he admits to it @wpri12 https://t.co/Fn78uKFKrt pic.twitter.com/vt8Zw3sZD0
— Amanda Pitts (@AmandaPittsTV) June 23, 2023
News : State Senator Josh Miller confirms his arrest by Cranston PD for malicious damage :
Me: "did you key a Trump supporter's car?"
JM: "I have to review the charges?"
Me: "did you change clothes to avoid identification?"
JM: "I took my jacket off, that's not against the law". pic.twitter.com/gPPgfmBniR— Gene Valicenti (@GeneValicenti) June 23, 2023
The Horn editorial team