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U.S. Marshals catch Effingham fugitive Miller
0827 Wesley Mark Miller
Wesley Mark Miller

Federal authorities on Thursday captured a Savannah man who had been on the run since nearly running over an Effingham County Sheriff’s Office deputy with a stolen truck last month.


Wesley Mark Miller, 32, was arrested “without incident” in Long County by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, according to spokesman Tommy Long.


“We’re really glad that he’s behind bars,” said ECSO spokesman Detective David Ehsanipoor.


Miller was already on federal probation when Deputy Jason Fondren pulled him over at approximately 4 a.m. on July 13. Miller was driving a pick-up matching one that had been stolen on Highway 30.


Fondren walked to the driver’s side of the truck and was nearly hit when Miller sped away, Ehsanipoor said.


“The investigation revealed that he was driving a stolen truck and had an extensive criminal history,” Ehsanipoor said.


Deputies pursued Miller down Highway 30 and onto Nease Road. He lost control of the pick-up, crashing into several utility poles and becoming trapped in the truck with live power lines, Ehsanipoor said. Emergency workers freed Miller from the pick-up and he was taken to Memorial Health University Medical Center with several injuries.


“At some time during his medical treatment, Miller left the hospital and (had) been on the run ever since,” Long said.


Miller is being held in the Liberty County Jail. He awaits charges in Effingham County of theft by receiving a stolen vehicle, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony criminal attempt to commit a crime and possession of tools during the commission of a crime.


Authorities conducted an “extensive investigation” to find Miller, working “numerous leads” and interviewing “numerous people,” Long said. One lead was to a trailer off Marcus Nobles Road in Long County, where Miller was arrested by the Marshals Task Force, Long County Sheriff’s Department and the Georgia Department of Corrections K-9 unit.


Miller’s run-ins with the law began with a 2003 conviction for conspiracy to manufacture, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine. He was given a 10-year sentence to be followed by five years of supervised release.