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A series of snapshots depicting Miller running out of court -
Miller
By B. Scott McLendon
Staff Writer
Immediately conjuring abject chaos in the Jefferson County Courthouse on April 13, a man hopped from the second-floor balcony in an apparent – and failed – attempt to rabbit when a judge told him he’d be taken into custody for a failed drug test.
“Whoa, mama,” said Criminal District Judge John Stevens when he saw the alleged “serial runner’s” rap sheet. Brandon Jamal Miller, 31, was in court with his attorney, John West, to review a “drug patch issue” resulting from the man testing positive for cocaine.
According to information presented in court, a drug test indicated the presence of cocaine in Miller’s system. His attorney told Judge Stevens that cocaine has “never” been his drug of choice. However, the judge quickly disproved the attorney’s assertion by revealing multiple convictions for possession of cocaine.
In fact, a brief glance into Miller’s criminal history revealed a 58-page-long list of crimes and convictions, including for possession of cocaine. Upon hearing he’d be taken into custody at about 9:30 a.m., Miller evaded bailiffs inside Judge Stevens’ courtroom while a woman pleaded “Brandon, stop!”
Witnesses say Miller then leapt from the second-floor balcony inside the courthouse, where they heard his head hit the stone floor.
“Miller had been out on bond for multiple narcotics and evading detention charges,” according to information from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. “After Judge Stevens ordered Miller to be remanded into the custody of bailiffs for a failed drug test and behavioral issues in the courtroom, Miller turned and bolted from the courtroom. After encountering a deputy just outside the courtroom door, Miller was able to pull away and jump from the second story balcony onto the first story floor.”
Officials say a deputy stationed at the front entrance attempted to detain Miller just outside the door; Miller resisted arrest, so the deputy deployed his taser. Miller was booked into the Jefferson County Jail a short time later.
Miller’s “serial runner” status, as one lawyer referred to him, was partially earned in events described by a 2015 Beaumont Police Department (BPD) news release.
According to the release, in April 2015, patrol officers were taking a report in the 1400 block of Roberts Street and heard several gunshots in the area of Roberts Park. Officers ran to the park and saw a 25-year-old Miller running through the park. Officers gave Miller verbal commands to stop running and show them his hands. Miller refused to stop and officers pursued him on foot. Miller was found to be in possession of crack cocaine and dispatch advised officers he had previous felony convictions.
Miller told officers he was shooting dice at the park and got into an argument with another man over the game. The argument escalated and Miller said the other male struck him in the ear with a gun. Miller was taken to Baptist hospital to have his ear tended to and be medically cleared before he was booked into the county jail.
Miller’s most recent escape also required a trip to hospital before his jail admission. Miller is currently being held without bond as Judge Stevens revoked the escapee’s bonds.