Republic’s Miller charged with assault, armed criminal action in alleged machete attack

A Republic man is in the Greene County Jail after he was arrested for allegedly striking another man repeatedly with the handle of a machete.
Leroy D. Miller, 64, was taken into custody on Tuesday, Sept. 24. He faces charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action.
According to the probable cause statement in the case, Republic Police officers were called to a residence where they encountered Miller sitting on the grass in the front yard with bloodstains on his knuckles and clothing. One of the officers asked Miller what happened, to which Miller reportedly said he had an altercation with the victim, whom Miller accused of theft. There was also a machete on the grass next to Miller, but he said he struck the victim with his fists instead of with the knife.
After detaining Miller for further questioning, the police officers spoke with the victim. He told the officers that Miller approached him in the garage of the house..... struck him with the handle of the machete, while also threatening to “cut (his) throat.” The victim stated that he was sitting down when Miller approached him, and that Miller attacked him after he told Miller to leave. He also said that Miller struck him four times with the machete handle and also put the blade against his throat.
The police officers also noted that the victim had “significant lacerations” on his forehead, nose and upper lip, as well as a cut on his right index finger.
Miller was arrested, and in a post-Miranda interview, admitted to striking the victim, claiming the victim had stolen things from him. According to the probable cause statement, he told the officer that he struck the victim across the nose, and also admitted to striking him with the handle of the machete and explicitly told the victim to “stop bull (expletive) me.”  When asked how many times he had struck the victim, Miller told the officer that he only struck him once “while (he was) laughing and had a grin on his face.”
Online court records show that Miller made his initial appearance in court on or around Friday, Sept. 27, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, Oct. 7, for a counsel status hearing.