Valdosta police arrested 21-year-old Jordan Miller on Wednesday after a social media post surfaced showing him dancing with an officer’s handcuff still on his wrist. Miller is accused of assaulting two Valdosta police officers during an initial arrest attempt earlier the same day.
The incident began at approximately 3:15 a.m. when Valdosta police officers responded to a reported dispute at a home on Sheppard Street. Upon arrival, one of the residents informed officers that Miller was inside her home, was not a resident, and that she wanted him removed from the property and ordered not to return. Officers escorted Miller from the residence and issued him a criminal trespass order, formally prohibiting his return.
However, approximately two hours later, the victim called 911 again to report that Miller was continuing to trespass. She provided officers with evidence showing that he had driven by her house multiple times, entered her yard, and unplugged her camera system. While officers were investigating the second report, they noticed Miller driving by the house and initiated a stop.
Police said that during this interaction, Miller resisted arrest and attempted to flee the scene. According to a Valdosta Police Department (VPD) press release, officers managed to get one handcuff on one of Miller’s wrists before he “began physically assaulting officers, striking one officer in the face multiple times and pushing another one to the ground.” Miller then fled on foot from the scene, with the officer’s handcuff still attached to one wrist. Other officers responded to the area, but they were initially unable to locate him.
Following the assault and escape, officers obtained active arrest warrants for Miller. These warrants included two felony counts of obstruction of a law enforcement officer by use of threats or violence, along with charges for criminal trespass after notice, stalking, and taking by theft. The VPD’s Power Squad and K-9 Unit joined the search efforts to locate Miller.
The search concluded when a video Miller had published on social media, reportedly showing him dancing with the handcuff still on his wrist, provided a crucial lead. This video allowed officers to track him to a location on East Brookwood Drive. When officers arrived at the specified residence, the occupants confirmed that Miller was inside. He reportedly refused to cooperate or leave the house, prompting officers to enter the home to apprehend him. Officers found Miller hiding in a kitchen cabinet and subsequently took him into custody on the active arrest warrants. He was then transported to the Lowndes County Jail.
Chief Leslie Manahan commented on the unusual circumstances of the incident, stating the department had no understanding of Miller’s motives for returning to the residence after being explicitly told not to by police. She highlighted his continued actions, including looking through windows and unplugging cameras, as well as his physical assault on officers to evade capture. Chief Manahan noted that the social media video, which she referred to as “what we call evidence,” significantly aided officers in locating Miller and completing the arrest. She also confirmed that the officer involved in the assault received only minor injuries to her face.
