SC trooper shoots armed man after high-speed chase on Midlands-area highway, cops say
An investigation is underway after a South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper shot an armed man following a failed traffic stop, high-speed chase, and crash on a Midlands-area road, the Department of Public Safety said Sunday.
The suspect, identified as Brandon Skyy Miller, was hospitalized, DPS spokeswoman Sherri Iacobelli said in a news release. He was later released from the hospital and jailed. The trooper was not hurt, according to Iacobelli.
The incident began at about 8:15 p.m. Saturday when the trooper stopped Miller’s vehicle on U.S. 176 for failure to yield, according to the release. The 36-year-old Holly Hill resident had pulled out in front of the trooper on a section of the highway near Holly Hill, Iacobelli said. That’s about 70 miles south of Columbia.
After stopping, the vehicle then sped off when the trooper got out of his patrol car, according to the release.
The trooper pursued Miller’s vehicle until it ran off the road and crashed into a wooden structure at a home on Juniper Court near S.C. 310, Iacobelli said.
Miller got out of his vehicle with a gun, DPS said. The trooper shot and hit Miller, according to the release.
No other injuries were reported.
When he was released from the hospital Sunday morning, Miller was charged with DUI — second offense; driving under suspension — third offense; and failure to stop for a blue light and siren, according to the release. Miller was taken to Orangeburg-Calhoun Regional Detention Center, where he is waiting for a bond hearing.
Miller is still facing charges from DUI arrests in 2018 and 2019, Orangeburg County court records show. In 2012, Miller pleaded guilty to DUI and having an expired tag, according to court records.
Any further charges against Miller would be brought by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Iacobelli said.
The trooper was placed on administrative leave, which Iacobelli said is standard protocol following an officer involved-shooting. Information was not available on whether the trooper is on paid leave, and the trooper has not been publicly identified.
The shooting is being investigated by SLED, according to the release. SLED will likely turn its findings over to the First Circuit Solicitor’s Office in Orangeburg County.
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This story was originally published July 19, 2020 at 8:56 AM with the headline "SC trooper shoots armed man after high-speed chase on Midlands-area highway, cops say."
