Cop testifies that Al Miller tried to elude police

A police witness today testified that head of the Fellowship Tabernacle, Reverend Al Miller, tried to elude police units, as they attempted to intercept his vehicle with fugitive, Christopher "Dudus" Coke in June 2010.

Sergeant Winston Radcliffe was giving testimony at the trial of Reverend Miller in the Corporate Area Criminal Court.

Miller is accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice after Christopher "Dudus" Coke was found in his vehicle during the islandwide manhunt for his capture. 

Radcliffe testified that on June 22, 2010 the police set up a dragnet to intercept Miller's RAV4 motor vehicle in Spanish Town, St. Catherine.

He said the police signaled the vehicle to stop before it entered the Spanish Town toll plaza. The driver stopped, wound down his window and identified himself as Reverend Al Miller.             

According to Radcliffe, Reverend Miller told him that he was taking Christopher Coke to the US embassy.   However, before the police could search the vehicle, the policemen said the Reverend sped off, triggering a high-speed chase. 

He said other units joined in the chase along the Spanish Town leg of Highway 2000.

Radcliffe testified that the pastor refused to stop despite police units flashing their lights and signaling him to stop. He said the police eventually forced the Reverend's vehicle off the road along the Mandela Highway. He said "Dudus" was found in the vehicle wearing a black wig, a cap and glasses.

Radcliffe testified that, after Coke was taken into custody, Miller was instructed to drive to a Portmore police station, but instead he sped off to Kingston. He said Miller was summoned the following day and arrested and charged. 

The trial continues on Friday.