from NBC San Diego:
San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of choking and restraining television reality show hostess and model Tila "Tequila" Nguyen, according to deputies.
They got the call at 3:45 a.m. on Sunday from a woman who claimed to have been choked and restrained by a male at a home on Sagecrest Drive in Poway.
"Nguyen told deputies she had been choked and physically restrained by Merriman when she attempted to leave his residence," Public Information Officer Jan Caldwell said.
The alleged victim signed a citizen's arrest at the scene, charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment.
Nguyen was transported to Pomerado Hospital and Merriman was taken into custody by Sheriff's deputies. He remained in the San Diego County Jail downtown on Sunday morning.
Well that will certainly put a dent in his chances of signing with the Chargers long term.
One part of me thinks this is believable, because I posted this a month ago where a former girlfriend of Shawne's was talking about him being involved with Tila. Another part of me can't believe it because Tila is a complete attention-whore who probably wouldn't hesitate to make a fraudulent police report to ruin Shawne's credibility.
Also, when I met Shawne at training camp he couldn't have been nicer or more inviting. Even with his muscles and intensity on the football field, just from meeting him for 10 minutes I have a hard time seeing him do something like this. Then again, I know a lot of people that can get pretty crazy when they get angry....
My advice to Chargers fans: close your ears on this issue until it's investigated further. The fact that she went to the hospital means that they have definitive proof as to whether or not he choked her. If he did, things will get ugly quickly.
Larry English is looking like a pretty smart pick at this point.
(HT: BigRed61)
UPDATE: A.J. Smith has released a statement regarding Shawne Merriman's arrest.
It's disappointing to hear about the issue involving Shawne Merriman. We'll continue to monitor the situation and let the legal process run its course.
2nd UPDATE: from NBC San Diego (Hat Tip to maestro876)
The linebacker’s lawyer talked briefly with reporters outside the San Diego County Jail downtown Sunday. He denied the allegations and claimed that Merriman and Nguyen were at a party at his Poway home with at least 14 other people. He said Nguyen was “extremely inebriated” and that Merriman tried to stop her from leaving the home because he didn’t feel it was safe for her to do so.
Stingaree management officials confirmed Sunday that Merriman and Nguyen were a birthday celebration with friends in the Penthouse of the nightclub until 2 a.m. when the nightclub closed.
Answering Questions: from 619sports
Quick question or two: would Tequila have been taken to the hospital if it had been readily apparent to deputies upon their arrival at Merriman’s home that she was just fine and in perfect physical condition? Would Merriman have been taken into custody had everything been in perfect order?
Do you really need those questions answered for you?
Chris Ello is off base here. In a domestic violence case, with no proof besides what the woman has said, it becomes a "citizen's arrest" and everything is left in the hands of the woman. After the officers ask the woman "Do you want us to arrest him?" and she answers "Yes" (which is something they have to do in a domestic disturbance call), their judgment is taken out of it. It's her call if she wants to be taken to the hospital, just like it's her call to have him arrested. For all we know, Shawne was arrested because his girlfriend was mad at him for something. There doesn't need to be any proof beyond the woman's word for the arrest and the trip to the hospital to take place.
To clarify, Shawne Merriman was placed under citizen's arrest by Tila Tequila. He was not arrested by the Poway Police, so pointing to his arrest or the fact that she went to the hospital offers no proof of anything.