Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Watch Video of Council Candidate Placed in Handcuffs
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 7 years ago on
July 12, 2018

Share

Video obtained by GV Wire shows Fresno City Council candidate Daren Miller placed in handcuffs by county security staff on Monday (July 9).
Miller was restrained, but not arrested Monday at an election office in southeast Fresno during the recount of the Fresno City Council District 3 race.
He spent nearly 40 minutes handcuffed inside the room where counting took place.
The candidate requested a recount after finishing six votes behind second-place finisher Tate Hill. Miller paid nearly $8,000 for the recount and actually lost votes while Hill gained some. Hill retained his second-place status and will face Miguel Arias in the November runoff.

Miller Wanted Answers

“(Elections officials) were not giving me any answers to my questions and attempted to remove me from the room at 12 o’clock. …I refused to leave.”Daren Miller
The video showed Miller speaking with two election officials, Cindy Lee and Ravi Gill, around 11:55 a.m.
Specifically, Miller wanted to know how much he would be refunded if he ended his recount request early, as well as the purpose of the recount. Miller said he was frustrated about the lack of answers but held no ill will for the security staff.
“The security officers were doing their job. (Elections officials) were not giving me any answers to my questions and attempted to remove me from the room at 12 o’clock. …I refused to leave,” Miller told GV Wire at the time.

Monday Timeline

During Monday’s recount, election officials cleared the room and locked it at 4525 E. Hamilton Ave. during breaks and attempted to do so during the lunch hour. However, Miller refused to leave.
About a minute after everyone left the room, two security officers spoke with Miller as the election officials left for a side office. One minute after that, one officer placed Miller in cuffs and sat him down.
About 14 minutes after being placed in cuffs, two more security officers arrived. Lee can be seen sitting in the distance. A fifth security member arrived later.
About 12:30 p.m., Gill returned to talk with Miller for about a minute. Miller remained seated and cuffed. Around 12:35 p.m., a Fresno County deputy arrived.
The deputy spoke with Miller for a minute, then spoke with Lee for about three minutes.
At approximately 12:41 p.m., the deputy returned to Miller, who was then uncuffed and eventually left the room. Miller said the deputy convinced him to leave the room rather than be arrested.
Miller then argued with Gill on the outside, as captured by GV Wire.

“I’m not here to cause issues for you, as security officers and the sheriff’s officer who was very cordial with me. I just want answers. I paid $8,000 for this process to start and go through,” Miller said. “Not to have answers to my questions is inappropriate.”

Orth Responds

“Clearing the room and locking it during break times are standard procedures required to protect the ballots and the recount process.”Fresno County Elections Clerk Brandi Orth
Fresno County Clerk Brandi Orth, an elected official charged with running elections, told GV Wire she gave instructions on how the day would operate at the beginning of the recount.
“I explained that at each break, we would clear everyone out of the room and lock it down.  We would then open the room after break. This is done to protect the security of the ballots and the process,” Orth replied to a GV Wire email.
She said security officers handled the situation according to their procedures.
“My responsibility is to conduct the recount process without disturbances so that the process can be completed without interruption. Clearing the room and locking it during break times are standard procedures required to protect the ballots and the recount process,” Orth said.

Miller’s Future

Miller said he just wanted answers.
“If I leave during the lunch hour, and they lock the door behind me and never address me, what happens? I never get answers. I’m just a citizen, I’m a consumer. Why can’t I get my questions answered in an appropriate way?” Miller said.
As to whether he would run for public office again, Miller said that he hadn’t thought about it.
“I’m going to continue to serve my community, whether it’s an elected official or community member,” he said.
[7/13/18 Correction: a quote in this story mistakenly attributed to Tate Hill, when it was said by Miller. It has been corrected.]

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

DON'T MISS

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

DON'T MISS

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

DON'T MISS

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

DON'T MISS

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

DON'T MISS

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

DON'T MISS

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

DON'T MISS

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

DON'T MISS

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

DON'T MISS

Misty Her: Push for Fresno Unified Turnaround Starts Now With ‘Boots on the Ground’

UP NEXT

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

UP NEXT

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested in 2004 Cold Case Rape and Murder

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Willie Ray Butler

UP NEXT

Fresno Ranks Fourth in US for an Affordable Night Out

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Tased, Arrested After Suspected Reckless DUI in Kerman

UP NEXT

Madera Vehicle Burglary Leads to Arrests, Gang Charges for Juveniles

UP NEXT

Beware of Scammers Saying You Won the Publishers Clearing House Drawing

UP NEXT

Fresno Unified Trustee Wittrup Says District Had Stronger Candidates Than Misty Her

UP NEXT

On Major Economic Decisions, Trump Blinks, and Then Blinks Again

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

3 hours ago

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

4 hours ago

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

4 hours ago

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

5 hours ago

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

5 hours ago

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

5 hours ago

Misty Her: Push for Fresno Unified Turnaround Starts Now With ‘Boots on the Ground’

5 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest 17 in Domestic Violence Crackdown

6 hours ago

What’s Next for Fresno Smoke Shop Ordinance: Lawsuit, Veto, Override?

6 hours ago

Visalia Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2019 Fatal Stabbing

7 hours ago

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

LOS ANGELES — California regulators have released a new proposal to allow the testing of self-driving heavy duty trucks on public roads. The...

3 hours ago

3 hours ago

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

3 hours ago

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

3 hours ago

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

Selma Mayor Scott Robertson (left) has been charged with misdemeanor electioneering for allegedly campaigning near voters at a polling place during the November 2024 election. (Facebook)
3 hours ago

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

4 hours ago

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

4 hours ago

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

5 hours ago

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

A drone view shows containers at the terminals at the port in Kwai Chung in Hong Kong, China, April 3, 2025. (REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo)
5 hours ago

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend