Connecticut pastor arrested for possession of crystal meth and multiple charges

A church leader in Woodbury, Connecticut, found himself in legal trouble after a routine traffic stop led to his arrest on multiple charges, including possession of crystal methamphetamine. Herbert Miller, 63, was pulled over for driving without valid registration, only for police to discover his suspended registration due to a lack of insurance. The situation escalated when authorities found Miller in possession of rock and liquid forms of crystal meth, alongside a hypodermic needle prepared for injection. The pastor was subsequently charged with operating an unregistered vehicle, driving without insurance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to sell narcotics, and possession of a controlled substance. Miller was later released on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on February 23.

Pastoral history

Prior to his current position at Woodbury United Methodist Church, Miller served as the pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Shelton. Despite conflicting reports, with the Shelton church denying his current status as their pastor, the voicemail message at Woodbury United Methodist Church identifies him as their pastor. CBS News reached out to the New York Annual Conference for further comment. Before his tenure in Connecticut, Miller served at Park Slope United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Yale Divinity School. The Park Slope church noted that Miller was appointed to their leadership in 2004 and remained there until 2018, during which time he was involved in initiatives like supporting Occupy Wall Street and establishing a Sunday dinner program. The pastor is expected to face legal proceedings as the community and congregations await further developments.