A Derby man accused of assaulting assaulting medical personnel at the police station after an arrest last month said Friday that police are targeting him because he won’t admit to setting a fire at his apartment building.
Edward Minerly’s lawyer, Donna Candella, told Judge Charles Lee in court June 21 that she had that morning received medical records relating to Minerly’s arrest in May that she needed time to “decipher” before discussing the case further with prosecutors.
The case was continued to July 23.
Minerly, 50, talked with the Valley Indy after his brief appearance.
Outside the courthouse Minerly denied the charges against him and said that cops were targeting him, but Derby police said they took Minerly into custody because Minerly’s probation officer accused him of violating the terms of his probation.
Minerly has a criminal record that includes a a 1992 conviction for first-degree sexual assault, for which he served time in prison. He is required to register as a sex offender, and has a conviction on his record for failing to do so.
He’s also on probation in connection to a 2007 forgery conviction.
In April, Scott Smith, Minerly’s probation officer, accused Minerly of violating his probation for missing scheduled probation appointments and for getting arrested in December for allegedly impersonating a police officer.
Derby police took Minerly into custody May 18, where he picked up more criminal charges while being held in a Derby jail cell.
Police said Minerly complained of medical issues, so emergency medical service personnel were called to his cell. Minerly then threatened the EMTs and tried to assault them, police said.
Minerly “became irrational and became a danger to himself,” according to an e‑mail from Lt. Sal Frosceno May 31.
Minerly, however, said that police are targeting him because he is a suspect in a March 22 fire that damaged his apartment building on Main Street in Derby.
“They just have a vendetta against me,” Minerly said. “They want me to admit to starting the fire.”
Minerly’s lawyer said her client has pleaded not guilty and she has advised him not to talk to the press.
