MANCHESTER, NH – The arrest of a city man near Smyth Road School Wednesday morning has raised concerned police used excessive force after a video recording showed an officer stomping on the man’s back, who was handcuffed and face down on the ground. [Video link via YouTube below.]
Gary Scott Miller, 57, of 234 Bruce Road, was video arraigned Thursday in 9th Circuit Court – District Division – Manchester on a felony charge of second-degree assault and misdemeanor counts of simple assault and resisting arrest. He is accused of choking his 88-year-old father and assaulting a police officer.
Judge Jared Bedrick ordered Miller held in preventative detention (without bail) pending probable cause and evidentiary (bail) hearings on May 14, 2026.
As Bedrick read the charges against him, Miller repeatedly interrupted him, disputing the allegations. Miller is accused of applying pressure to the throat of his 88-year-old father in the kitchen of their Bruce Road home, pinning him against the cabinets and causing him to lose physical strength and fall to the floor.
“He did not fall. That is not true at all,” Miller told the judge. He said he wanted his parents in the courtroom to face him because that wasn’t true.
“I simply pushed him because he pushed me,” Miller said. “He screamed at me, ‘Get out of here you son of a bitch.’ He pushed me first and I pushed him back.”
The judge explained to Miller that he would have the opportunity to speak about what happened at a later hearing. Miller said he wanted his parents to be there and tell him their point of view but conceded it would probably be the last time he ever saw them and then he would become a ward of the state.
When the issue of bail was raised, Miller told the judge he has no money. “The only people who could give it to me are my parents and at this point that’s highly unlikely,” he said.
The simple assault charge accused him of grabbing Officer Justin Ketcham by the vest. Miller again denied it.
“I weigh 120 pounds. You think I would do that? You’re crazy,” he said.
Miller was arrested outside his home about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday as parents were dropping off their children at the nearby Smyth Road School. His arrest by Officer Justin Ketcham was witnessed by parents and a segment of it was recorded by someone who posted it on social media. In it, Ketcham is seen attempting to handcuff Miller who is face down on the grass. Ketcham is on his knees straddling Miller as he cuffs the man’s hands in the back.
Ketcham then stands up and with one foot, stomps Miller on the back. The officer then kneels back down beside Miller, and puts his full weight across the slighter man and later pushes him onto his side.
Miller, who does not appear to resist, then begins to kick his legs and Ketcham presses him down with both hands. Another officer arrives, kneels down and straddles Miller’s legs and then repeatedly punches Miller in the lower back or buttocks.
Wednesday night, Manchester Ink Link reached out to Heather Hamel, the department’s public information officer, asking for the individual’s name recorded in the video, which was attached, and details concerning the arrest. Ink Link also asked if the officers had followed department protocol.
Shortly after, Hamel issued issued this news release:
“On 5/6/2026, at approximately 831 a.m., the Manchester Police Department responded an address on Bruce Road for a reported domestic violence incident involving an adult son strangling his elderly father.
Upon police arrival, Gary Miller, 57 years of age, emerged from the front door and without provocation, attacked the responding officer. During the altercation, Mr. Miller was combative even while in handcuffs and required the additional use of leg restraints and a spit hood. Mr. Miller was placed under arrest and charged with Second Degree Assault, Resisting Arrest and Simple Assault.
Anyone who has information about this should call Manchester Police at 603-668-8711. You can also remain anonymous and call the Manchester Crimeline at 603-624-4040.“
However, she did not address the incident itself.
Thursday morning, Manchester Ink Link reached out to Hamel again, asking for a comment from Chief Peter Marr concerning the video and “whether it is appropriate for an officer to stomp on an individual who is facedown and handcuffed?”
The chief responded to Publisher Carol Robidoux, who also had sent an email, that the incident was under review. He did not say what was under review or if the officers’ actions were appropriate.
A second request for comment from MPD on Thursday was not answered.