Milford Police Arrest Man For Spitting On BLM Protester

MILFORD, CT — A 61-year-old Milford man was arrested Tuesday, exactly one month after his actions toward a sidewalk protester led to a police investigation. David Williams, of the 600 block of Plains Road, is accused of "spitting on a protester" during a June protest, according to a news release by the Milford Police Department.

Multiple protests took place in Connecticut in the aftermath of the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. On June 8, hundreds gathered on the Milford Town Green to protest Floyd's death and to express solidarity with their black neighbors, friends and loved ones.

It was during the evening hours of the previous day, June 7, that Williams drove past a single protester holding a demonstration on a Milford sidewalk, police spokesman Officer Michael DeVito told Patch.

"It was not a formal protest. She was standing legally on a sidewalk," DeVito said, describing the protester. "This gentleman rolled up, and he yelled out to her, 'All lives matter.'"

The protester, who was holding a Black Lives Matter sign, was also filming during the incident.

"He spit on her, and the allegations are that the spit landed on her arm and on her shirt," DeVito continued. "She called the police, and he left. That was the end of the confrontation."

It didn't take long to track down the alleged drive-by spitter. From the video, investigators were able to extract images that clearly showed the driver and the vehicle, DeVito said. One day after posting the photos to the department's social media pages, police believed they'd found a match.

Williams was called in for an interview with investigators. He showed up to the station driving the same truck caught on video, DeVito said.

"He did confess," DeVito added.

Williams was released without bond pending an August court date. He faces a misdemeanor charge for disturbing the peace.