DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa.–A Dauphin County man was arrested Tuesday after he ordered his two dogs to attack police while they were executing a search warrant at his motor home, according to the Dauphin County District Attorney’s office.
Paul D. Miller is charged with four counts of aggravated assault, six counts of possession of child pornography and resisting arrest. He was arraigned and taken to Dauphin County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Authorities responded to Miller’s motor home along Piketown Road on Nov. 3 to search his residence for child pornography. The Attorney General’s Computer Forensic Unit received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Miller reportedly downloaded child porn, prosecutors said.
Two uniformed Pennsylvania State Police troopers knocked on Miller’s door and heard a male voice inside say, “get ready to get them” followed by growling dogs. Authorities said Miller opened the door and ordered his two dogs to “get them. ” Miller released the dogs and repeated the “get them” command three to four more times, prosecutors said. Both dogs aggressively charged at the uniformed troopers. One of the troopers fired two shots to fend off the attacking dogs.
One dog was injured, but survived. Investigators said both dogs retreated after the shots were fired.
Miller refused multiple commands to get on the ground and then struggled with police while they tried to arrest him, prosecutors said.
Police deployed a taser and pepper sprayed him in order to gain control. A forensic examination of Miller’s phone found at least six images of child pornography, prosecutors said.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 16.
