State Police: Man Takes a Swing at a Trooper With a Hard Hat in Vernon

VERNON, CT - A Vernon man is due in court next week to explain to a judge why he tried to hit a state trooper with a hard hat after he was pulled over for using a phantom, doctored license state police said.

The incident took place at 9:27 a.m. on June 16, when a trooper near Green Circle in Vernon noticed a Chevy Tahoe truck driven by Brian Miltz go past her with a "mutilated" license plate. The plate was spray-painted on the lower part, making it difficult to read, according to an arrest report.

The plate was assigned to another vehicle, according to an arrest report.

Miltz, 39, refused to give up his keys and became belligerent when questioned. He tried to put the key back into the ignition and was subdued with pepper spray, according to an arrest report.

He then had to be sprayed a second time after grabbing a hard hat and swinging it toward a trooper, according to an arrest report.

He was charged with the license plate violation, operating an unregistered vehicle, mutilating an motor vehicle ID number, interfering with an officer and disorderly conduct, state police said. He is due in court on June 26, according to an arrest report.

Photo Credit: The booking mug shot of Miltz furnished by state police.