Attempted murder trial for ex stripper set in Pasco
NEW PORT RICHEY –
Brittany Miles, the Spring Hill woman accused of escaping from a police car and later slamming into a cyclist, killing him in Hernando County, has a trial date.
Sixth Circuit Judge Michael Andrews set a Sept. 10 trial for Miles on Thursday afternoon.
Miles, 22, a former exotic dancer, did not speak at the hearing.
In Pasco County, Miles faces charges of attempted murder, escape, fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer, driving under the influence and methamphetamine possession.
She returns to court in Brooksville today for a pretrial hearing. Miles faces a first-degree murder charge in Hernando County. She is being held without bond.
According to the state attorney’s office, on the morning of May 10, 2011, Miles was pulled over on suspicion of DUI while she drove along U.S. 19 in Hudson. Pasco County deputy Ashley Grady placed Miles in handcuffs and sat her in the back of her patrol car.
With the window of the patrol car down, Miles freed one of her hands from the cuffs, opened the cruiser’s door with the outside handle and escaped. She jumped back into her truck, which was being prepared to be towed but still had keys in the ignition, and sped away.
Deputy Grady reached inside the truck’s driver’s side window in an attempt to pull the keys from the ignition, but was pushed from the truck. She suffered a broken ankle and tibia and was cut on her head.
Miles sped north on 19 with deputies behind her. Shortly after crossing the Hernando County line, sheriff’s reports say she plowed into 67-year-old motorcyclist Henry McCain.
Miles’ damaged truck came to a stop near the Pasco-Hernando Community College entrance in Spring Hill. McCain died at the scene.
Miles was arrested and taken to the hospital for treatment.
Grady, with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office since July 2010, was suspended for five days without pay for violating a sheriff’s office policy on prisoner custody and transportation.
