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Police arrest Jesse Miller

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Also by Nick Penzenstadler:

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by Nick Penzenstadler

Monday, October 1, 2007

The man accused of causing a campus scare last week, which including a bomb threat at University of Wisconsin Hospital, was arrested in San Diego Friday morning.

Jesse Miller, 19, was taken into custody by San Diego Police officers at a naval hospital after they received a call from military police about a man with a questionable identity.

According to San Diego Police Department spokesperson Monica Munoz, Miller was posing as another individual and, after fingerprinting, was arrested on a probation violation.

"Miller is currently being held in the custody of the San Diego Sheriff's Department on his warrant," Munoz said.

Madison Police Department officials obtained information late last week leading them to a residence at 2005 E. Washington Ave. After determining Miller was not at the residence, they continued their investigation, leading them to believe he may be in the San Diego vicinity.

In a news release Friday, University of Wisconsin Police announced Miller called Madison Police Department officials Thursday evening leading them to communicate with the SDPD.

Munoz said around 10:20 p.m. Thursday night, they received information from military police at the naval base hospital where they had detained a man presenting a false identity.

"We don't have any information why he was in San Diego or if he was injured," Munoz said.

In the early morning Friday, Munoz said Miller cooperated with SDPD and was arrested without incident.

In a strange twist of events, Miller, claiming to be his brother, called Madison television station WKOW just hours before his arrest and attempted to explain a mistaken identity.

WKOW reporters recorded their lengthy interview with Miller, who explained how similar he looks to "his brother," and even admitted he could be considered a threat to others if put in the right situation.

According to UW Police Sgt. Jason Whitney, Miller would likely have his extrication hearing today, transferring custody to Dane County officials before returning to Madison.

"Dane County Corrections and sheriffs will work now on figuring out how to get him back here," Whitney said.

Miller was already on work release serving a one-year sentence for an armed robbery last year when he disappeared Sept. 9, according to UWPD.

Whitney said the investigation is ongoing, and police would need to continue analyzing information before they will know how Miller will be charged.

"There still is a lot of evidence that needs to be sifted through to see what they'll charge him with," Whitney said.

In addition to the charges, Whitney said the investigation would also look to determine Miller's motive and ties to San Diego.

"We don't know of any family ties, or why he was there," Whitney said. "Investigators are looking into that now."

When asked whether police overreacted to the threat Tuesday night on the UW campus, Whitney said officers acted appropriately given the risk of the possibly armed man.

"Tuesday night we didn't know where he was—we had information he may be in the parking ramp so we conducted it as such," Whitney said. "We continued and allowed people back into the area. We did what we had to make sure the community was safe."

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Anonymous (October 1, 2007 @ 11:07am):

his "extrication" hearing is today? well thank god for him they aren't trying to EXTRADITE him...

Anonymous (October 1, 2007 @ 2:39pm):

Hey 11:07, the suspect is being extricated from military custody. It's not the same thing as an extradition from one sovereign to another. Don't be such a snot.

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