According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, 27-year-old Bruce Miller, an NFL fullback with the San Francisco 49ers, has been charged with misdemeanor vandalism.
Bruce Miller booking photo.
The charge comes after an investigation into an argument between Miller and his girlfriend, during which Miller reportedly threw her cell phone against a wall. In the original report, evidence at the scene indicated that Miller may have also pushed his girlfriend from his parked car. An investigation into this allegation was inconclusive.
Miller is a resident of Santa Clara and was arraigned at 1:30 p.m. in Department 46 in the Hall of Justice on Monday, May 4. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail. Jim Demertzis, Supervisor of the District Attorney’s Family Violence Unit said, “Even relatively minor domestic violence incidents can be the first steps on a path that ends in tragedy. That’s why we take all domestic violence cases seriously.”
On the night of Thursday, March 5, the victim and Miller were arguing in a parking garage at the Rivermark Hyatt House, located at 3915 Rivermark Plaza in Santa Clara. The female victim originally told police Miller had pushed her out of the vehicle before he grabbed her cell phone from her and smashed it.
Miller, left, tangles with Byron Maxwell in a game against the Seattle Seahawks (Seattle Times)
The female victim refused medical attention, and was not seen to have any visible injuries from the incident. In a later interview by investigators, she denied that there had been any physical contact during the incident.
A witness who was sitting in a nearby bagel shop witnessed the suspect and victim exit the garage on foot. It was at this time that their argument became heated. The witness watched as Miller threw the female victim’s cell phone against an exterior business wall. The female victim, who was distraught over the incident, asked the witness if she could borrow her cell phone to call police.
According to KCRA news, the General Manager of the San Francisco 49ers Trent Baalke said, “The San Francisco 49ers organization is aware of the matter involving Bruce Miller,” The NFL has begun to crack down on players who commit domestic violence. “We were disappointed to learn of these reports and will do our due diligence in collecting all relevant information,” Baalke said.
