SANTA CLARA (KRON) — 49er Bruce Miller has been charged with vandalism after an argument with his girlfriend.
The charge comes after an investigation into an allegation that Miller threw his girlfriend’s phone against a wall. Original reports indicated that Miller may have also pushed his girlfriend, but an investigation in to that was inconclusive.
On March 4, Miller and his girlfriend were arguing in a parking garage at the Rivermark Hyatt House in Santa Clara. The victim originally told police that Miller pushed her out of the vehicle before grabbing her cell phone and smashing it.
“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, ” said Jim Demertzis of the District Attorney’s Family Violence Unit.
In a later interview with police, Miller’s girlfriend denied that there had been any physical contact during the incident.
An independent witness, who was at a nearby bagel shop told police that she saw Miller and the woman leave the garage on foot as they argued. The witness reported seeing Miller throw a cellphone against a business wall. The witness then allowed the victim to use her phone to call the police.
27-year-old Miller will be arraigned Monday afternoon. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail.