The South Carolina pastor whose wife was found dead in a North Carolina park earlier this year was arrested in Myrtle Beach on Wednesday, apparently following a confrontation with protesters at his church.
Court records show that John-Paul Miller was charged with assault and battery, the Myrtle Beach Sun News reported. An incident report was not available, but police said in a Facebook post they were called to “a disturbance” in the area of Miller’s Solid Rock Church Wednesday afternoon.
According to WBMF, Miller was given a $776 bond Thursday morning and ordered to have no contact with the victim. His attorney is expected to explain away the charges at a press conference.
Mica Miller died by suicide at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina on April 27, as CrimeOnline reported. She and her husband were in the midst of divorce proceedings. The pastor was accused of abuse, following her, and grooming her from a young age through the church.
Law enforcement released a 911 call, security footage, and a detailed timeline from the day of Mica Miller’s death, while her supporters launched a “Justice for Mica” group that frequently held protests at the husband’s church. Mica’s family is also supporting a proposed new law addressing behaviors that “dominate, manipulate, and intimidate” individuals in intimate relationships, including threats, humiliation, emotional abuse, and isolation.
Earlier this month, the FBI conducted “court-authorized law enforcement activity” at a residence linked to John-Paul Miller, who has not been charged with any crimes related to his wife’s death.
According to WBTW, John-Paul Miller confronted a “Justice for Mica” protester outside the Solid Rock church Wednesday afternoon. The station captured footage of the protest and said it had “obtained footage” of a direct confrontation between Miller and one of the protesters.
“What did you say?” he demands of the woman. “You walked right up to me.”
Miller makes some type of motion that upsets the woman, who says he put his hands on her.
On Tuesday, the church was emptied of its contents, the station said, including the “Solid Rock” lettering on the sign outside. Miller’s vehicle was at the site for a lengthy time. When the station asked what was going on, Miller responded with an email threatening them to “NEVER reach out to me or solid rock or we will consider it harassment.”
Miller has previously threatened local media for reporting on his wife’s suicide and his actions surrounding it.
Meanwhile, the church’s website has been taken offline and its phone number disconnected, but last month Miller organized and applied for 501(c)(3) status for a new church, Living Water Church at Market Common, the shopping center where Solid Rock was located.
WBTW said that the Solid Rock church and Miller’s home are part of a $5.59 million real estate portfolio owned by Solid Rock Ministries.
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[Featured image: Mica Miller/Burroughs Funeral Home and Cremation Services]
