Police: Cell phone dispute led to Bob Miller’s arrest
The Glasgow mayoral candidate was arrested Wednesday in Bowling Green and charged with fourth-degree assault.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Police records provide additional details about the domestic disturbance that led to the arrest of Glasgow mayoral candidate Bob R. Miller on Wednesday.
Miller was arrested by the Bowling Green Police Department and charged with fourth-degree assault, domestic violence — minor injury, according to Warren County Regional Jail records. The crime is a misdemeanor.
Brennan Crain
An officer responded Wednesday afternoon to an alley along East Main Avenue after receiving a report of a domestic disturbance.
According to the police citation, Miller’s stepson told police he had been in the back seat of a vehicle with his mother and Miller.
The two got into an argument over a cell phone, according to the citation. Miller reportedly became upset, grabbed his stepson and attempted to take his phone.
The stepson told police Miller struck him in the face with an open hand, causing him pain at the time.
“[Stepson] also advised that Bobby aggressively grabbed him by the arm, which also caused him pain at the time of the incident,” the citation said.
Police documented two red marks on the stepson’s right arm.
The citation said the stepson had previously lived with Miller and his mother for about four years before leaving to attend Job Corps.
Miller and Cathy Thomas, the stepson’s mother, told police that Miller helped raise the stepson during those four years and served in a “father-like role in his life.”
Police records indicate Miller and Thomas are not married.
Thomas, who is in a relationship with Miller and is also a candidate for Glasgow City Council, released a statement Wednesday evening describing the incident as a “silly altercation” and an “overreaction.”
“Today, my son was involved in a silly altercation with Bob R. Miller, the Glasgow mayoral candidate. No one was injured. It was truly an overreaction that should have been handled differently,” Thomas said. “I would appreciate it if you could respect the privacy of Bob's family and ours at this time.”
Miller’s account
When police spoke with Miller, he acknowledged becoming upset during a verbal argument over the cell phone.
“Bobby stated that he became upset because he pays the phone bill for the device,” the citation said.
Miller told police he attempted to take the phone from his stepson but said he did not intentionally assault him.
Miller was booked into Warren County Regional Jail at 5:11 p.m. Wednesday, according to jail records. He was released Wednesday at 9:02 p.m. on a $2,500 unsecured bond.
He is scheduled to appear in Warren County for arraignment Oct. 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Miller is challenging incumbent Mayor Henry Royse in the Nov. 3 election.
The bottom line
Police records say an argument over a cell phone preceded Miller's arrest Wednesday on a fourth-degree assault charge involving domestic violence and minor injury.
Miller's stepson told police Miller struck him and grabbed his arm. Miller told police he attempted to take the phone but did not intentionally assault him. Thomas described the incident as a “silly altercation” and an “overreaction.”
