A city councilman and former police officer in Northglenn admits he egged the car of a Broomfield officer whom he believed was having an affair with his ex-girlfriend, authorities say.
The egg-tossing and other alleged incidents in late January led police Monday to arrest 39-year-old James Miller on misdemeanor charges of harassment, second-degree criminal tampering and domestic violence.
Miller is free on $1,500 bond and faces a March 23 court date. He couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday.
Miller was a Northglenn police officer for at least five years and was elected to the council in November, said Mayor Kathleen Novak. He was sworn in to office in early January.
The council has no power to sanction its members for wrongdoing outside of city government. Even if it did, Miller deserves to be seen as innocent until proved guilty, Novak said. “Until the case goes to its natural conclusion, it’s probably premature to act,” she said.
The ex-girlfriend, April Sanchez, told police that she and her co-worker, Broomfield officer Jason Smith, were followed by Miller on Jan. 24. At one point, Miller flashed his headlights and honked his horn at Sanchez’s vehicle, according to court documents.
He then called Sanchez on her cellphone. She refused to answer and instead called 911.
Three days later, Sanchez reported to police that she received as many as 20 text messages from Miller, all alluding to her relationship with Smith.
She and Smith also saw Miller drive in front of her house and throw eggs at Smith’s car.
They saw him do the same thing a day later, the documents said. Sanchez couldn’t be reached for comment.
Miller told police he was not stalking or harassing Sanchez but was angry when he saw Smith’s car in front of Sanchez’s home.
He said he threw eggs at Smith’s car on Jan. 27. When pressed further, “James stated that he was not sure, but he could have gone back a second time and threw more eggs,” the documents stated.
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
