Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush is facing misdemeanor assault and harassment charges after a reported domestic incident over the weekend at his home near Pittsburgh, according to police and court records released Monday.
Authorities in Bell Acres Borough, Pennsylvania, responded to a 911 call Sunday from a residence in Sewickley, where a woman identified as Bush’s girlfriend alleged that the 26-year-old NFL player became physically aggressive during an argument.
According to police, the dispute began over a friend of Bush’s and a mess left in the kitchen. The woman told officers that as the argument escalated, she began recording Bush on her cellphone. She said Bush became enraged, chased her, and pinned her against a massage table to forcibly take the phone. Investigators say he then smashed the device, allegedly to prevent her from calling for help.
The woman and her daughter fled to a nearby home. Police documented visible injuries on the woman’s wrist and foot, which she claimed were caused when Bush attempted to grab the phone. She also told officers that Bush tried to confiscate her iPad.
In a statement to police, Bush acknowledged breaking the phone but denied any physical altercation. He reportedly told officers he did not want to be recorded in his own home.
Bush, a former University of Michigan standout and first-round NFL draft pick, played four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Seattle Seahawks. He signed with the Cleveland Browns last year and started 10 games, tallying 76 tackles. In March, he re-signed with the team on a one-year deal worth $3.25 million.
The Browns issued a brief statement acknowledging the incident: “We are aware and gathering more information,” a team spokesperson told The Associated Press.
As of Monday afternoon, no defense attorney was listed for Bush in court records, and messages left with his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had not been returned.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 20.