Cranston Police Arrest Rhode Island State Senator Joshua Miller for
Malicious Damage to a Vehicle
Colonel Michael J. Winquist, Chief of the Cranston Police Department, announces that State
Senator Joshua Miller, age 69, of 41 Talbot Manor Road, Cranston, RI, was charged with
Vandalism/Malicious Injury to Property last evening after allegedly “keying” a vehicle in the
Garden City Shopping Center. This release is being provided due to multiple media inquiries.
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. 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 male subject,
later identified as Joshua Miller, if he had just “keyed” his vehicle. Miller denied he was
responsible and quickly walked away. The victim noticed a vehicle parked directly next to his
after they left to shop and in a parking space on the same side where the damage occurred. He
also observed a ” Re-elect Senator Josh Miller” bumper sticker affixed to the rear of the vehicle.
He then looked up ” Senator Josh Miller on the internet on his cell phone, which returned a photo
of him. He immediately recognized the subject in the photo as the person he suspected of keying his vehicle. The vehicle’s owner completed a statement indicating he wished to file charges
against the person responsible for the damage.
Officers checked the shopping plaza and were initially unable to locate a person matching the
suspect’s description. Approximately two hours later, Joshua Miller was observed wearing the
same clothing except for his suit jacket, which was inside a bag he was carrying. He returned to
his vehicle, which was parked directly next to where the victim had been parked. He was stopped
when leaving the shopping plaza in his vehicle. The Officer advised Mr. Miller he was
investigating a crime. When presented with the allegation, Mr. Miller denied damaging the
vehicle and alleged that the person parked beside him had verbally threatened him. The victim
was called back to the scene and identified Mr. Miller as the person who had keyed his vehicle.
Mr. Miller was permitted to leave as the alleged crime he was suspected of committing was a
misdemeanor and to allow Officers time to view the surveillance camera footage in the shopping
plaza. After viewing the video, the witness’s account of the incident was corroborated.
It should be noted that Mr. Miller stated to the Officer who stopped him that he was being stalked
and threatened by “gun nuts” at the State House, and he believed the person in the vehicle may
have recognized him as a State Senator and threatened him for that reason. He told the Officer to
call Colonel Michael Winquist, who was aware of the threats and was patrolling the area of his
home. Mr. Miller never reported any threats to Colonel Winquist or any member of the Cranston
Police Department.
After viewing the surveillance video, Officers responded to Mr. Miller’s residence to re-interview
him. Mr. Miller was confronted with additional information, including he was observed next to
the damaged vehicle on video surveillance cameras. He then admitted he had damaged the
vehicle because the owner had been yelling at him and “dared him”to do it. Mr. Miller voluntarily
responded to Cranston Police Headquarters and was charged with Vandalism/Malicious Injury
to Property. He was arraigned by a Justice of the Peace and released on $1000 personal
recognizance. His next scheduled court date is July 18, 2023, for re-arraignment in the Third
District Court.
Colonel Winquist stated, “Nobody is above the law, including those who make and enforce the
laws. The Officers who handled this investigation did so with fairness, integrity, and without
preferential treatment. I would expect no less from the fine men and women of the Cranston
Police Department.”
Disclaimer: All individual(s) contained in this press release are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.