Authorities Seek Area Fugitive

BERLIN - A Berlin man wanted by U.S. Marshals remained at large as of late yesterday after a multi-agency manhunt throughout the area on Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, Worcester County Sheriff's deputies responded to a residence on Logtown Rd. in Berlin for a reported robbery. Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene and identified the suspect as Robert Lee Miller, Jr., 37, of Berlin, whose address is listed as Logtown Rd. and who also has a long history of run-ins with the law in Worcester County.

Sheriff's deputies found Miller hiding in the woods near the Worcester-Wicomico county line and briefly detained him. While Miller was being interviewed by police, he was able to flee into the nearby woods and was not located. A massive multi-agency search effort was conducted involving Sheriff's deputies, the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Police and Maryland Natural Resources Police, but as of yesterday, Miller remained at large.

During the search, a Worcester County Sheriff's deputy developed a heat-related illness and had to be transported to the hospital for treatment. The deputy was later released without any serious injury.

During the investigation, it was determined Miller was also wanted by U.S. Marshals on federal charges. A check of federal court records showed Miller was convicted in 2003 on charges of a felon in possession of ammunition and was sentenced to over four years in jail followed by three years of supervised probation including six months of home detention.

In December 2008, Miller was arrested in Worcester County on several charges including driving under the influence, driving while impaired, negligent driving, and driving on a suspended license among others. That arrest violated the terms of his parole and probation in the federal ammunitions possession case.

In February, federal parole and probation officials petitioned the U.S. District Court to amend the conditions of Miller's probation by requiring him to spend six months in community confinement, after which his federal case would be allowed to terminate. In March, however, Miller failed to report to Volunteers of America, violating the new special conditions of his parole and probation put in place in February.

Those conditions required Miller to reside at and successfully participate in the program of a community correction facility, halfway house or similar facility for a period of six months. Because he did not report as ordered, a federal warrant was sworn for Miller's arrest, which is why he is wanted by U.S. Marshals.