NFL star linebacker Von Miller turned himself in to the Glenn Heights Police Department on Thursday after a warrant was issued for his arrest after an incident at a Dallas apartment allegedly led to an altercation with his pregnant girlfriend.
The alleged incident occurred Wednesday morning at a high-rise apartment complex in the North Harwood area of downtown Dallas.
According to the police affidavit, Miller’s girlfriend had “minor abrasions” on her hand and bruising on her neck after an argument over traveling on her birthday became heated. Miller allegedly shoved his girlfriend while telling her to leave, and when she asked him to stop because she was pregnant, he “began applying pressure around the [girlfriend’s] neck for 3 to 5 seconds before letting go.”
According to CBS News Texas, he also threw her phone and laptop on the ground and stomped on them.
When police arrived on the scene, Miller’s girlfriend told them she was six weeks pregnant and showed them a pregnancy test and a previous conversation with Miller about the pregnancy and future appointments.
The alleged victim has since claimed, “No one assaulted anyone.”
Miller, a DeSoto native and former standout at Texas A&M, is charged with assaulting a pregnant woman, which is a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He posted bail with a $5,000 bond.
“In cases like this, we see it all the time,” local defense attorney Darryl Washington told CBS News. “There are complaints that are made by victims, and two or three days later, when things calm down and cool off people tend to want to drop these charges, but what we’ve been seeing lately is that prosecutors are still pursuing these charges, if the evidence, if the photographs, if the recordings, if they feel like they have enough evidence, they will still go forward.”
Miller was the second overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and is a two-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion. He is currently in the second season of a six-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, but his future playing status remains unresolved after the incident.
“This morning, we were made aware of an incident involving Von Miller,” the Bills said in a statement on Thursday, following news of the arrest warrant. “We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at this point.”
The Bills are on a bye week and will not be playing this weekend.
