Crime & Safety

Police: Man Goes Berserk on Bridge Street

Douglas Mills is alleged to have kicked a woman, stolen a coffee cup, and banged on windows, all while muttering gibberish.

Update: Mills allegedly assaulted an officer after he was placed in custody.

A Phoenixville man was arrested on Bridge Street last week after he assaulted a woman, stole a coffee cup, and caused disturbances outside several businesses before being pepper sprayed into submission, Phoenixville Police are reporting.

Douglas E Mills, 53, faces charges of simple assault, resisting arrest, theft, receiving stolen property, retail theft, and two counts each of disorderly conduct and harassment, stemming from the alleged September 28 incident.

Find out what's happening in Phoenixvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to court documents, a Phoenixville Police officer responded to the 200 block of Bridge Street at 9:14 a.m. that morning for a report of a man walking around kicking business doors.

The officer quickly identified Mills (“That’s him,” yelled a passerby the officer pulled up) and approached him as he walked towards Ellie’s Choice.

Find out what's happening in Phoenixvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The officer confronted Mills in the alcove in the front of the store and asked him what was wrong. Mills proceeded to, according to the affidavit, “blade” his body towards the officer, hands raised. Mills then sat down on a step in front of the door and began speaking incoherently.

The officer again asked him if he was okay, at which point Mills sprung to his feet, coffee mug in hand. The officer told him to sit down, but Mills replied “No!” and continued to move towards him. Options limited, the officer pepper sprayed Mills and then, with the assistance of another officer, cuffed him and put him in the patrol car.

After Mills was securely in custody, a woman approached the officers and reported that he had poked and kicked her several times while they were in line at Heidi Sue Variety. 

Two other Bridge Street professionals had similar stories. A Steel City employee alleged that Mills stole a coffee mug from the café that morning while a State Farm Insurance rep told police Mills walked into her office, sat down, muttered unintelligible gibberish, then punched and kicked their glass doors as he left.

Douglas Mills faces a preliminary hearing on October 11.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.