Trent Baalke: 49ers OLB Ahmad Brooks has been excused from team indefinitely

CENTENNIAL, Colo. - Niners general manager Trent Baalke said Ahmad Brooks returned to California this morning and no decision has been made on his long-term future with the team, a day after the outside linebacker was charged with misdemeanor sexual battery by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Brooks, 31, has been excused from team activities indefinitely. Baalke said he didn’t know if Brooks would play in the regular season if his legal case remains unresolved.

“No decision has been made at this point,” Baalke said. “Obviously this is a new development and we don’t have enough information to make that decision at this point.”

Fullback Bruce Miller stayed away from the team after he was arrested in March after a dispute with his then-fiancee. Miller didn’t return until he pleaded no contest in June to misdemeanor disturbing the peace. Baalke said the team hasn’t determined how it will proceed with Brooks. He said the NFL is handling the review of Brooks’ case, as mandated by the league’s personal-conduct policy.

“Where it goes from here, I don’t have that answer right now,” Baalke said. “I don’t have enough information regarding the situation right now. All I can speak of is today, and as of today Ahmad is away from this football team. We’re going to be here until Saturday taking care of business. In the meantime, we’ll be evaluating this as we go along day-to-day.”

Last year, the 49ers were sharply criticized after they allowed defensive tackle Ray McDonald to play in the regular season following a domestic-violence arrest. They ultimately released him in December after McDonald was accused of rape in a separate incident (he was indicted by a Santa Clara grand jury Wednesday).

In Decemebr, the 49ers parted with McDonald, citing a “pattern of poor decision-making,” even though he had not been arrested or charged with a crime. They released outside linebacker Aldon Smith earlier this month after he was arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run, driving under the influence and vandalism. It marked the fifth time Smith had been arrested or charged since 2012.

For his part, this isn’t the first time Brooks has made unwanted headlines.

In 2013, Brooks wasn’t charged after he allegedly hit then-teammate Lamar Divens in the head three times with a beer bottle, an incident that prompted an investigation by the Santa Clara district attorney’s office. In 2008, when he was playing for the Bengals, Brooks was accused of punching a woman in the face and accepted mediation on the charges.

On Wednesday, Brooks was charged after a woman claimed he “groped her in a sexual manner” when she was unconscious for more than eight minutes after hitting her head at a party at McDonald’s house in December.

Baalke was asked why the 49ers haven’t decided to release Brooks.

“There’s no two situations that are the same,” Baalke said. “Any time players are involved in off-the field incidents, we take those matters seriously. We’ve worked hard, very hard, over the past 12 months, to really try to get ahead of this stuff … It’s our mission to get ahead of these things before they happen.”

The 49ers have had seven players account for an NFL-high 12 arrests since 2012. Baalke said the team has tripled the staffing and resources of its player-engagement department over the past year. The head of the department, former 49ers linebacker Keena Turner, flew back with Brooks this morning.

Twitter: @Eric_Branch