Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller turned himself into a police department in the Dallas area after an arrest warrant was issued on allegations he assaulted a pregnant woman, authorities said Thursday.
Officers were called to a “major disturbance” on the 3100 block of North Harwood Street in Dallas at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dallas police said in a statement.
Miller, 34, a former Super Bowl MVP, and the “victim got into a verbal argument and the suspect assaulted the victim,” police said.
He was gone by the time officers arrived, according to authorities. The victim was treated for minor injuries.
Dallas police issued the warrant on a charge of assault against a pregnant person, officials said.
Miller turned himself in at 3 p.m. Thursday to police in Glenn Heights, a city around 15 miles south of Dallas and in the metro area, and has bonded out of jail, Glenn Heights Police Chief Nick Bristow said.
Miller, his attorney and his agents did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
A police affidavit that is part of the warrant says that the person who made the report and Miller have been in a romantic relationship for seven years and they share children together.
There was an argument between Miller and the woman, who did not want to travel on her birthday, according to the affidavit. She slammed a door and Miller became angry and began telling her to get out of the unit, the affidavit said.
Miller began pushing the woman, who said she was pregnant, out of the apartment and at one point stepped on her foot and threw her laptop and phone on the floor. When she bent down to get it, he pulled her hair and caused her to fall down, the affidavit said.
The suspect also allegedly put his hands around the woman’s neck, causing pain. He left when the woman said she was calling police, according to the affidavit, which stated the woman said she was 6 weeks pregnant.
Miller, who was named Super Bowl MVP in 2016 when he was with the Denver Broncos, grew up in the nearby Dallas suburb of DeSoto.
He’s in his second season with the Bills, who are off this week.
A representative for the team said the Bills “were made aware of an incident involving Von Miller” on Thursday morning.
“We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at this point,” the representative added.
Acts of domestic violence by football players, and ensuing action by the NFL, have been under particular scrutiny for the past decade.
Ray Rice, a running back for the Baltimore Ravens, was caught on camera brutally assaulting his then-fiancée in 2014. He was initially suspended for two games, triggering a massive outcry and allegations that the NFL didn’t take the offense seriously.
Rice was cut by the Ravens, and he never played in the league again.
Players can be suspended up to six games for domestic violence, “even if the conduct does not result in a criminal conviction,” according to NFL policy.
Dee Eskridge, a backup wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, was suspended for six games this season following an alleged confrontation with his child’s mother.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or the threat of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for help at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or go to www.thehotline.org for anonymous, confidential online chats, available in English and Spanish. Individual states often have their own domestic violence hotlines as well.
Advocates at the National Domestic Violence Hotline field calls from both survivors of domestic violence as well as individuals who are concerned that they may be abusive toward their partners.
Phil Helsel, Juliette Arcodia and John Filippelli contributed.
