Ex-East Haven Police Officer Gets 4 Months

A former East Haven police officer has received a four-month prison sentence for using unreasonable force during an arrest.

John Miller, a 44-year-old sergeant and former president of the police union, was sentenced on Wednesday in federal court in Hartford. He pleaded guilty in 2012 to violating a person's civil rights by using unreasonable force.

Authorities said Miller, who had sought probation, admitted that in 2010 he struck a handcuffed individual while the victim was in the secure custody of two other police officers. 

Miller was sentenced to four months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

He is the last of four officers charged in an investigation of mistreatment of Latinos and others to be sentenced. The others received sentences between two and five years.

On Oct. 23, 2012, Jason Zullo pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction stemming from his filing of a false police report in order to prevent a possible excessive force investigation.  On Dec. 16, he was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment.

On Oct. 21, 2013, David Cari was found guilty of one count of conspiracy against rights, one count of deprivation of rights for making an arrest without probable cause, and one count of obstruction of a federal investigation for preparing a false report.  On Jan. 21, he was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment.

On Oct. 21, 2013, Dennis Spaulding was found guilty of one count of conspiracy against rights, one count of use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer, two counts of deprivation of rights for making arrests without probable cause, and two counts of obstruction of a federal investigation for preparing false reports to justify the false arrests. 

On Jan. 23, he was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment.

Miller's lawyer, Donald Cretella, has said the allegation against Miller did not involve mistreating any minorities.

Miller, who has retired from the East Haven Police Department, was ordered to report to prison on March 13.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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