Police sergeant admits to using unreasonable force

The indictment accused him of heading "Miller's boys," a group of East Haven police officers that federal prosecutors claim engaged in a conspiracy to `injure, oppress, threaten and intimidate" mostly Latinos in that city.

But those allegations against East Haven Police Sgt. John Miller will be dropped, except for one in which he admitting striking a handcuffed Italian-American man in the stomach during a Jan. 10 arrest.

Miller, a 43-year-old decorated officer, pleaded guilty Friday to violating the man's civil rights by using unreasonable force during an arrest. The guilty plea was entered during proceedings before Chief U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in U.S. District Court in Hartford.

The charge carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine. But the federal sentencing guidelines recommend he receive a prison sentence of 12 to 18 months.

However, Donald Cretella, Miller's lawyer, however, said the prosecution will recommend Miller receive no jail time when he is sentenced Feb. 1.

The prosecution, headed by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly and Assistant U.S. Attorney Krishna Patel, claim Miller is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

An additional charge that Miller, as a supervisor and union president, engaged in a conspiracy with three other officers, David Cari, Dennis Spaulding and Jason Zullo, to violate civil rights, will be dismissed at sentencing.

The three officers, who worked under Miller during the 4 p.m. to midnight shift, have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

"Sgt. Miller told me from the start that if he had done anything wrong, he would plead guilty," Cretella said. "He did this because it was the right thing to do for him and his family."

Cretella said Miller "always denied he mistreated any minorities, including Latinos."

Miller has been on administrative leave following his Jan. 24 arrest.

Shortly after Miller's guilty plea, East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. released a statement.

"Today's event is unfortunate for our police department and the East Haven community; however, we have been and will continue to move our department forward working for a better future that we can all be proud of," the statement reads.

Both U.S. Attorney David Fein and Mary Galligan, acting assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York office, which investigated this case, condemned police officers who use excessive force illegally.

"The conduct of this officer, in striking a defenseless individual, is abhorrent," Fein said.

"When a police officer uses excessive force, he not only victimizes the person whose civil rights he violated, he undermines public trust in the professionals who are sworn to protect and serve, and do so honorably," Galligan added.

In this case, Cretella said the arrested individual was under the influence, abusive and non-cooperative.

Meanwhile, Frank Riccio Jr., who along with his father, Frank Sr., represent Spaulding, said Miller's admission will have no effect on their decision to go forward with a trial early next year.

"Our intention is to go to trial and put the government's evidence to test," the younger Riccio said Friday. "I don't see this affecting our case at all."

The indictment came as a result of a two-year investigation ordered by the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Criminal Division.

The division received complaints and video recordings of Latinos and Latino businesses being harassed and subjected to arrest and searches by the officers. Additionally, several claimed they were victims of false arrest and excessive force.

The Rev. James Manship, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in New Haven, has been identified as one of those arrested while trying to document the mistreatment of Latinos.