A day after he eluded a manhunt by four law enforcement agencies a Spartanburg man is behind bars.

Ernest Dewayne Miller Jr., 32, 321 Wheeler Court, Spartanburg, is charged by the Union County Sheriff’s Office with distribution of crack cocaine, resisting arrest and driving under suspension.

Miller is accused of having sold crack cocaine to an undercover operative Monday afternoon then fleeing when deputies tried to arrest him. The ensuing three-hour manhunt involved the sheriff’s office as well as personnnel from the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, York County Sheriff’s Office and SC Highway Patrol. Despite their efforts, Miller was able to elude capture Monday afternoon and was not taken into custody until late Tuesday night.

The incident report states narcotics officers met with an operative Monday who told them he knew of a black male in the Spartanburg area he could call who would bring a quantity of drugs. The operative made the call and spoke with an individual about bringing $200 worth of crack cocaine to a convenience store in Jonesville. The individual told the operative he did not have a license and would have to see if he could find a ride.

Approximately 10 minutes later the individual called the operative and told him he was on his way to Union. He said the operative would have to give him some gas money. The operative agreed to give him $40 for gas and told the suspect he would walk to the convenience store’s parking lot to meet him. He then gave the suspect directions to the convenience store.

To prepare him for the meeting, narcotics officers searched and wired the operative with audio and video equipment and gave him $240 in recorded government funds. Narcotics officers and uniformed deputies then took up positions near the convenience store to assist in the arrest of the suspect. The operative was dropped off on the street from an undercover vehicle so he could walk to the parking lot.

While the operative was walking, the report states the suspect drove up beside him in a silver Dodge Stratus. and told him to get in. The operative got in the passenger side and they drove to a parking lot behind the convenience store. The report states the suspect then sold the operative a quantity of crack cocaine in exchange for the $240 in recorded funds. The operative then got out of the car and the suspect drove away toward US 176, turned onto the highway and then headed toward Spartanburg County.

The report states deputies then attempted to stop the vehicle only to have the suspect jump out and run into the wooded area on the right side of the road. In the process, he literally stepped out of his sandals running away with only socks on his feet.

Deputies then requested the assistance of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office’s helicopter and the York County Sheriff’s Office’s bloodhound and tracking team as well as the SC Highway Patrol. Deputies and troopers set up a perimeter around the area to try and contain the suspect. A deputy met with the York County personnel in Lockhart and brought them to the area where they began their search.

A deputy also met with the operative, collected the evidence, searched the operative and sent him on his way.

The ensuing three-hour search produced only the suspect’s t-shirt which was found near the truck entrance of the Dollar General Distribution Center on SC 9. Deputies theorized the suspect, who had taken his cell phone with him, had probably called someone to come pick him up. The search was called off and the vehicle the suspect had been driving was towed away.

A deputy then contacted the narcotics unit of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and asked them to go to the residence of the car’s registered owner to find out who was driving it. When they met with the owner, Jasmine Inez Beatty, at her residence at 131 Prospect Ave., Spartanburg, the report states she told them it had been stolen at a nightclub the previous night by a guy she knew only by the name of Jeff. However, the report states Beatty had not reported her vehicle being stolen until deputies arrived to ask her who had been operating it.

Shortly after 6 p.m., the report states Beatty was contacted by deputies and told to bring the driver of the vehicle to the Union County Sheriff’s Office. She again denied knowing who the driver was and was told her vehicle would be held until the case was resolved.

The report states on Tuesday a deputy received several calls from Beatty wanting her car back. The narcotics officers sent word to her about where her car was and gave her a number to call to find out what the towing bill would be. Beatty called the number which was actually the number of a narcotic officer who pretended to be the owner of the wrecker service and told her it would cost $75 for her to get her vehicle. She replied she was on her way.

Deputies set up surveillance and watched as Beatty and two other females arrived. They then arrested Beatty for allowing an unauthorized person to drive her vehicle because they knew the suspect did not have a driver’s license.

While Beatty and one of the females were being questioned, the report states deputies learned Miller was the person who’d sold the crack cocaine and was driving the vehicle. Deputies went to Spartanburg where they took Miller into custody and brought him to the Union County Jail. When Miller was booked, $110 was seized from him along with his cell phone. The report states Milller admitted to selling the crack cocaine and driving the vehicle on Monday.

At the time the report was filed both Miller and Beatty were still in jail.

Chief Deputy Perry Haney said more charges could possibly be filed in the case.