Police in South Carolina arrested John-Paul "JP" Miller, the pastor husband at the center of controversy surrounding his wife Mice Miller's disappearance and suicide, for allegedly assaulting a protestor.
JP Miller, 45, was arrested at his Myrtle Beach home on Wednesday regarding a "possible assault" against a protester at his church, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.
The affidavit did not specify what the protest was about, but Mica Miller supporters have been showing up to his Solid Rock church with signs and posters demanding justice for Mica after her friends and family accused the pastor of playing a role in her April suicide.
The alleged abuse victim reportedly approached JP Miller on Wednesday and said, "Here Kitty Kitty."
Police claim JP Miller "got into the victims (sic) face" and started recording her before tapping her cap and walking away. Police reportedly stated in the documents that they reviewed video from the protest, but did not see the alleged incident.
JP Miller's lawyer, Russell Long, allegedly shared a video with PEOPLE of the alleged assault. The outlet reports the video shows a woman running toward JP Miller and the person recording yells "Pussycat! Pussycat! Run, run, run!"
JP Miller allegedly approached the woman in front of a car and appeared to hold his phone up to her.
"Don't f--king touch me," the woman allegedly yelled.
Long told the outlet that the alleged victim and video recorder were "just baiting him and trying to coerce him."
Newsweek has contacted the Myrtle Beach PD for comment.
Long claims JP Miller held his camera up to the woman but did not assault her.
He says while the pastor had his camera up, he didn't assault the victim.
A witness told police that JP Miller struck the victim twice. It remains unclear whether JP Miller touched the victim at all.
JP Miller was arrested at his home later Wednesday night. He was released on a $776 bond.
"Enough's enough," Long told PEOPLE about JP Miller's "outrageous" arrest. "The city of Myrtle Beach has failed this guy and his churchgoers, they've allowed these people to kill this church, and they're allowing these people to stalk and harass John-Paul Miller. And arresting him just gives them more bait, right? It gives them more purpose. They're not going to stop."
FBI Raid on JP Miller's Home
JP Miller's arrest comes days after the FBI raided his home on November 1.
An FBI spokesperson Kevin Wheeler told Newsweek, "I can only confirm our presence there being related to court-authorized law enforcement activity."
About 25 FBI agents were at the home wearing "Evidence Response Team" uniforms, News13 reported. They reportedly put on gloves and brought bags from a truck while preparing to enter the residence.
Neighbors told the outlet that JP Miller was not home at the time of the raid.
Who Was Mica Miller?
Mica Miller, 30, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in April and was found in a Lumber River State Park in North Carolina. However, her family previously shared their suspicions that JP Miller played a role in her death.
Mica and JP Miller were in the midst of a divorce at the time of her death. Her family claimed Mica Miller kept a journal suggesting she was a victim of abusive coercive control.
Mica's sister, Sierra Francis, said in an affidavit that her sister warned family members that "if I end up with a bullet in my head, it was not by me, it was JP."
JP Miller's Business Moves
JP Miller made headlines last month for appearing to make business moves.
On October 17, he filed court documents with the South Carolina Secretary of State for a new religious incorporation called Living Water Church at Market Common.
The purpose of the nonprofit corporation is charitable, religious, educational, and literary, according to the filing. The business address is listed as JP Miller's personal residence in Myrtle Beach, SC.
If the new religious corporation is dissolved, the paperwork states its assets would go to St. Delight Pentecostal Church, founded by the mother of JP Miller's mentor, Chares Randall.
On October 23, JP Miller formally updated the address of his church Solid Rock Ministries to its current location at 803 Howard Avenue in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Since 2006, the business address for Solid Rock had been his residential address for a home he shared with his first wife, Alison.
JP Miller, who "has a heart to 'Love God and Love People'" started pastoring at Solid Rock in 2016, according to his bio on the church's website.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
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