49er pleads no contest to disturbing the peace in clash with ex

Bruce Miller must take a counseling course. Bruce Miller must take a counseling course. Photo: Santa Clara Police Photo: Santa Clara Police Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 49er pleads no contest to disturbing the peace in clash with ex 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

San Francisco 49ers fullback Bruce Miller pleaded no contest Tuesday to disturbing the peace in connection with an incident in which he had been accused of shoving his ex-fiancee and destroying her cell phone during an argument in Santa Clara.

Miller, 27, must attend a 16-week anti-domestic-violence counseling course and is barred from contacting the victim pending his sentencing on the misdemeanor charge in about six months, said Tyrone Wilson, a Santa Clara County deputy district attorney with the family violence unit.

“We are satisfied that Mr. Miller is taking steps to address his underlying anger issues,” Wilson said. “He will hear in his mandated class that domestic violence is unacceptable, no matter what the degree or circumstance.”

Miller was arrested March 5 on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery after initial reports indicated that he may have pushed his girlfriend from his parked car.

But an investigation into the alleged assault was inconclusive, and prosecutors charged him with misdemeanor vandalism, prosecutors said. The charge was reduced to disturbing the peace in plea negotiations.

Authorities said Miller and his girlfriend were arguing in a parking garage at the Rivermark Hyatt House in Santa Clara. She originally told police Miller had pushed her out of his vehicle “before he grabbed her cell phone from her and smashed it,” prosecutors said

The woman, whose name was withheld, declined medical attention and did not sustain any visible injuries or complain of pain, authorities said. In a subsequent interview with investigators, she denied that there had been any physical contact, prosecutors said.

A witness sitting at a nearby bagel shop told police that she saw the couple arguing as they left the garage on foot. She said she saw Miller throw a cell phone against an exterior business wall. The witness allowed Miller’s girlfriend to use her phone to call police.

Although Miller wasn’t charged with domestic violence, the case is being handled in domestic-violence court because the incident involved Miller and his ex-fiancee, authorities said.

Scanner recordings reviewed by The Chronicle revealed that Miller’s girlfriend called police to the Posh Bagel about 10:30 p.m., saying that she was behind the restaurant and that her boyfriend had “attacked her and took her keys.”

She then said, “Never mind,” and hung up, a dispatcher told police. A witness described the suspect — identified on the recording as Miller — as being 6 feet 3 and weighing 250 pounds.

Trent Baalke, 49ers general manager, said Tuesday that Miller, who had not participated in the team’s offseason program, will probably rejoin the 49ers soon. “Bruce knows what we expect of him as a member of this team, and he has committed to taking the necessary steps to grow from this experience.”

Seven 49ers have accounted for 11 arrests since 2012.

Defensive lineman Ray McDonald was dropped from the team after a string of police incidents at his San Jose home. He has not been charged and was also let go by the Chicago Bears after being arrested by Santa Clara police on Memorial Day on suspicion of domestic violence and child endangerment.

Chronicle staff writer

Eric Branch contributed

to this report.

Henry K. Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @henryklee