Lawsuit outlines salacious sexual harassment allegations at Holly Hill Police Department

A police evidence technician says former Holly Hill Police Chief Jeffrey Miller invited her for a threesome with his wife, masturbated at work in front of her and groped her, according to a new federal lawsuit filed against the city.

Lisa Amara sued Holly Hill and accused officials of fostering a boys club and turning a blind eye to the rampant sexual harassment happening in the Police Department, her lawsuit said.

The suit is the latest fallout for the city, located in Volusia County, after Miller and Captain Christopher Yates both resigned last year and several other employees were suspended, according to media reports.

City Manager Joseph Forte told Florida Politics that the city has not been served by the lawsuit. He added that the city does not comment on pending litigation.

Amara, who was hired in 2012, worked her way up to become an evidence technician in the Police Department.

In January 2024, Miller cornered Amara in her office and asked to see her breasts because “he was having a really bad day,” the lawsuit said. Then he “sat down in her chair, pulled Plaintiff’s shirt up and held onto her shirt preventing her from leaving, and masturbated.”

Other times, Miller offered her $100 or $500 for oral sex and invited her to have a threesome with his wife, according to the lawsuit.

One time, Miller called Amara into his office as Yates hid behind the door and then turned off the lights when Amara came into the room, the lawsuit added.

“Both Chief Miller and Captain Yates would grab Plaintiff, tickle her, and grope her breasts and buttocks. Each time, Plaintiff left upset and humiliated while Chief Miller and Captain Yates laughed at her,” the lawsuit said.

“Chief Miller also called Plaintiff into his office, shut the door, pulled up her shirt, and exposed and groped her breasts. Further, Chief Miller would come up behind Plaintiff and thrust his hips and pelvis into Plaintiff’s buttocks in a sexual motion.”

Both Yates and Miller asked her personal questions about her sex life and her body. 

Other times, Yates gave Amara “good morning hugs” and used that as an opportunity to snap her bra strap.

“In one instance, Captain Yates unsnapped her bra so hard that it broke the clasp. He bought her a bra for Christmas to replace the one he broke,” the lawsuit continued.

Another time, Yates shoved a banana down his pants and called Amara into this office.

The lawsuit described Yates leaning back in his chair and asking Amara if she “noticed anything unusual, referring to the bulge in his pants,” the lawsuit said.

Amara said she was scared to report the harassment after she overheard Miller and Yates talking about an internal investigation over another female employee’s complaints. 

“Deny, deny, deny,” Miller said, according to the lawsuit. “Yep, never happened,” Yates agreed.

“These instances created a well-founded fear in Plaintiff if she ever came forward and reported the harassment and discrimination she suffered,” Amara’s lawsuit said.

Amara filed discrimination complaints with the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission then received a “right to sue” notice, she said in the suit.

Her attorneys did not respond immediately to a request for comment Monday.