Miles Bridges’ domestic violence case back in court on Monday

LINCOLNTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Hornets forward Miles Bridges turned himself in to authorities in Lincoln County after a warrant was issued for his arrest, court records show.

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Bridges appeared at the department on Friday, Oct. 13, with his attorney with no notice.

The sheriff’s office confirmed Bridges, who is charged with a domestic violence protection order violation, misdemeanor child abuse, and injury to personal property, appeared in court on Friday, in front of a District Court judge, and was given a $1,000 bond.

Bridges was booked into the detention center just before 7 a.m. He is currently out on bond.

His case is due back in court on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023.

A criminal summons was issued on Wednesday, Oct. 11, for Bridges, tied to allegations he violated a domestic violence protective order, according to Mecklenburg County court records.

The order involves the mother of his children, and he’s also facing charges of misdemeanor child abuse and misdemeanor injury to personal property.

“We are aware of the reports and are in the process of gathering more information,” the Charlotte Hornets said in a statement sent to Queen City News.

The criminal summons are tied to an incident that occurred at 8:42 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, and a Mecklenburg County arrest warrant that was issued in January that had not been served. A Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told QCN that when warrants aren’t served, deputies are unable to make contact with the individual.

January’s criminal summons states Bridges violated a protective order that had been granted on Nov. 3, 2022. It states Bridges continually contacted the victim via social media and by phone.

The criminal summons, filed in October, states that on Friday, Bridges “unlawfully and willfully did knowingly violate a valid protective order” issued on May 11.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said the victim reached out on Tuesday, Oct. 10, and reported the Friday incident that happened in the 2500 block of Springs Drive in south Charlotte.

It states during a custody exchange, Bridges allegedly threw pool table balls at the victim’s vehicle, smashing the windshield and denting the car. The summons also states Bridges threatened the victim, stating that ‘if she told the police, he would take everything from her and withhold child support.’

The criminal summons issued this week states that Bridges threw the pool table balls at the vehicle while the children were inside the car. It states the vehicle window was smashed, and Bridges’ current girlfriend was screaming and kicking the victim’s vehicle while the children were inside it, leading to the misdemeanor charge of child abuse.

Damage done to the victim’s vehicle was in excess of $200, leading to the misdemeanor charge of injury to personal property.

The Hornets said they learned of the summons and warrants on Tuesday.

Bridges also has a separate charge from January for violating a domestic violence protective order by continuing to call and reach out to the victim using social media. 

“We can pick up on whether someone is being authentic, and we know if that is really the truth,” said Annie Hoffman who runs a communications business and focuses on coaching athletes for media interviews. 

Hoffman thinks the Hornets are taking the right approach by saying very little now and gathering more information. 

“I do think they need to be considerate of what’s going on legally, being quiet but when you do issue a statement, make sure that it’s not kind of the standard statements that are issued so often,” Hoffman said. “I think taking into account people’s emotions and also having Miles communicate his thoughts even whether it’s with a statement, but not something that’s sort of the standard thing we’re used to hearing, I just really don’t think that’s effective anymore, I just think people want authenticity.” 

The Hornets told Queen City News Bridges was with the team for its preseason game in Washington, D.C., Thursday night. 

The 25-year-old forward was suspended for 30 games without pay by the NBA after a domestic violence incident in Los Angeles on June 27, 2022, after Bridges was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including child abuse.

He never played last season and has a 10-game suspension to start the 2023-24 campaign.

Queen City News Anchor Robin Kanady went by Bridges’ house in Charlotte Thursday afternoon.

“I’m sorry, but we don’t have any information to give you,” a person who said he was not Bridges told Kanady through the doorbell camera.

Kanady also reached out to Sodoma Law, the attorneys representing Bridges’ ex-girlfriend. They declined to comment.

Bridges, who signed a one-year, $7.9 million offer from the Hornets over the offseason, said he wanted to apologize for the “pain and embarrassment” he caused.

During a Charlotte press conference in July, he elaborated on his gratefulness for a second chance.

 “A lot of people don’t get a second chance, so I wanna use this to prove I’m the same kid they drafted five years ago,” Bridges said.

As part of the California plea deal, Bridges will undergo counseling, perform 100 hours of community service, and remain on probation for three years.

“Without going into detail, we investigated to best of our ability with legal counsel and gathering info to us,” said Hornets General Manager Mitch Kupchak. “That’s all I’m prepared to say about that.”