Nevada Man Arrested for Racially Charged Altercation

Incident leads to arrest of Gary Miller and family
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Aug 9, 2024 6:14 AM CDT
Nevada Man Arrested for Racially Charged Altercation
Cars line the main stretch of Virginia City, Nev., that attracts tens of thousands of tourists.   (AP Photo/Gabe Stern, File)

Gary Miller of Nevada has admitted to making a racially charged comment involving a "hanging tree" during a confrontation with Ricky Johnson, a Black man collecting ballot signatures, per a criminal complaint made public Thursday. Miller, 74, along with his wife and adult daughter, was arrested Wednesday on misdemeanor charges and later released on bail. The incident, recorded by Johnson, took place during a classic car event in Virginia City. As he started recording, he told Miller to repeat what he said. He didn't, but according to court documents he told a sheriff's investigator he had said "there was a hanging tree down the road to go hang out there."

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, who praised the swift arrests, stated, "The public outcry was heard loud and clear, and steps have been taken to hold these individuals accountable for their racist and unlawful actions." Miller faces charges of noise violation and breach of peace, with an enhanced penalty due to the racial element. His wife, Janis, and daughter, Tiffany, face charges of battery and obstructing a police officer, respectively. The Millers declined public defenders, and it's unclear if they have other legal representation.

Court documents reveal Miller's explanation of his comments, citing his upbringing in "different times." He said Johnson started shouting and "going crazy" when he told him he was going to vote for Trump, according to the documents. The sheriff's office is also investigating threats and vandalism in the community purportedly linked to the incident. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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