MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — John-Paul Miller was arrested for third-degree assault and battery, according to online Myrtle Beach Police Department records.
Police responded to a possible assault at 743 Hemlock Avenue, near Solid Rock Church in The Market Common, where John-Paul is a pastor.
TRENDING: Trump’s election victory is causing a real merchandise frenzy in the NMB store
According to the arrest warrant, the victim protested and crossed the street to approach John-Paul. The victim said “Here Kitty Kitty” to John-Paul before turning around, getting in the victim’s face and holding up his phone as if he was recording her, according to the warrant.
The warrant added that John-Paul “tapped the brim of (the victim’s) baseball cap,” then turned and walked away. A witness told police that “she saw the suspect hit the victim’s hat twice.”
Sandra Caron is the protester who got into an argument with John-Paul. She said she had never been so angry or scared.
“I called him, yes I did, ‘here kitty kitty,’ and he came back and he said you called me, and I did,” Caron said.
Police say when John-Paul touched the brim of Caron’s baseball cap, he turned to walk away.
The video of the incident does not appear to show the attack, although the victim can be heard on video yelling, “Don’t touch me,” immediately after the possible attack, according to the warrant.
He appeared in court Thursday morning and was given a $776 cash bond. John-Paul declined to talk to ABC15 as he and his attorney left the Myrtle Beach Police Department.
His attorney Russell Long said he blames the city of Myrtle Beach for John-Paul’s lack of protection from protesters.
“It has literally been impossible for John Paul and others around him to live in peace, and honestly, I have to blame the city of Myrtle Beach,” Long said.
ABC15 reached out to the City of Myrtle Beach Police Department to respond to Long’s comments, but had not heard back at the time of publication.
ABC15 also reached out to the City of Myrtle Beach for comment, and they referred us to the police department for a statement.
Johannes-Paul was married to 30-year-old Mica Miller, who died by suicide on April 27 at Lumber River State Park in Robeson County.
Since her death, Police released the 911 call, security footage and a timeline of events with details of the day she died.
Last week the The FBI conducted “court-authorized law enforcement activities” at a home associated with John-Paulan FBI spokesperson confirmed to ABC15.