In 2016, Miller and a classmate were found delinquent in an Ohio
juvenile court on charges of assault and a violation of the Ohio Safe Schools Act.
[4] The pair were accused and found guilty of forcing a developmentally disabled African American classmate, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, to eat a piece of candy that they had wiped along the inside of a
urinal, repeated bullying of Meyer-Crothers, and repeatedly calling him a Racial Slur.
[13] Surveillance video also captured them kicking and punching Meyer-Crothers.
[14]
The bullying incidents resurfaced after
The Arizona Republic published an in-depth report on Miller on October 26, 2020.
[15] The
Republic exposé also revealed that Miller would frequently use the words "Racial Slur" and "BROWNIE" to refer to Meyer-Crothers and often told him to "go pick their cotton".
[16] The Coyotes initially defended Miller, citing their desire to "be a part of the solution in a real way" and to help Miller grow from this incident and eventually become a leader against bullying and racism.
[16][11] Although Coyotes general manager
Bill Armstrong did not draft Miller, he expressed the team's desire to provide Miller with a second chance.
[16]
According to the
Republic, Miller apologized to the then thirty-one NHL teams, but never to Meyer-Crothers or to his family.
[16] In a letter addressed to the Coyotes, Meyer-Crothers' mother, Joni, found Armstrong's comments demeaning to her son, stating that while Miller's classmate apologized to Meyer-Crothers, Miller himself was unwilling to show contrition. A juvenile court magistrate in Ohio concluded that Miller had absolutely no remorse for his actions against Meyer-Crothers and was merely upset that his reputation would be damaged by the situation. As a result of the exposé, the Coyotes received widespread criticism for drafting Miller.
[17] This ultimately led to the Coyotes renouncing their draft rights to Miller and cutting all ties with him.
[10][11][18] Miller was subsequently dropped from the University of North Dakota hockey team on the direct orders of the university president
Andrew Armacost. Miller was still however in good standing academically, and was allowed to continue attending classes at the university.
[12]
More details about the bullying surfaced after
The Independent published a detailed letter from the Meyer-Crothers family, reiterating that Miller has not apologized to the family, and detailing further accusations about Miller's behavior, starting as early as 1st grade.
[19][20] These allegations include:
- calling Meyer-Crothers Racial Slur in first grade
- along with a classmate smacking and punching Meyer-Crothers on the school bus
- repeated uses of the word Racial Slur against Meyer-Crothers
- spitting in Meyer-Crothers' face
Miller maintains that his court-mandated apology letter was read to the Meyer-Crothers family.
[21]