Woman indicted in biker's death

Woman indicted in biker's death
By TONY HOLT
Hernando Today

BROOKSVILLE >> Grand jurors on Tuesday indicted a 21-year-old Spring Hill woman on murder and aggravated fleeing charges. Brittany Elizabeth Miles was arrested following a
May 10 accident near County Line Road that killed a motorcyclist. Moments prior to the
accident, Miles escaped arrest along U.S. 19 in Hudson after a Pasco County sheriffs deputy
had her in custody under suspicion of DUI, authorities said. Before her pickup could be towed from the scene, Miles escaped from the back of a sheriffs cruiser, got into her vehicle and fled north along the highway while dragging the deputy a couple hundred feet, according to the Pasco
County Sheriffs Office. During her escape - and while deputies were in pursuit - she plowed
into 67-year-old Henry F. McCain as he was crossing the highway on his motorcycle, deputies said. Miles continued driving a short distance and attempted to elude deputies on foot, but she was arrested near Spring Hill Drive, according to the sheriffs office. The Pasco deputy who was clinging to Miles' vehicle in an attempt to stop her from escaping was hospitalized, but later released, deputies said. Assistant State Attomey Pete Magrino said because Miles killed McCain during the commission of other felonies - including escape and resisting arrest with violence - her most severe charge was upgraded to first-degree murder. Magrino said the State Attorney's Office will not pursue the death penalty against Miles. She faces other charges in Pasco County. Jail records show she was on probation for a drug charge when the accident took place.
The Hernando County case likely will be handled by Assistant State Attorney Bill Catto, said Magrino. Catto, who works out of the Citrus County office, prosecutes the majority of traffic-related homicide cases in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. Miles is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Hernando County Circuit Court. She is expected to be represented by an attorney out of Daytona Beach.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

Tampa Tribune
Pasco edition
June 2, 2011