San Diego Chargers’ Shawn Merriman arrested for altercation with girlfriend

Provided by 'KeithAllison' via flickr

Shawn Merriman was arrested Sunday after San Diego County Sheriffs were called by his girlfriend, reality TV star Tila Tequila. Tequila, whose name is really Tila Nguyen, 27, had accused Merriman of choking and restraining  her as she tried to leave his home in Poway. According to sheriff’s officials, she signed a citizen’s arrest warrant, charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment. Deputies responded about 3:45 a.m. to Merriman’s house, in response to Tila Nguyen’s phone call.

Merriman, 25, was taken into custody as a result of the inicident. Authorities declined to say whether he had posted bail or been released during an afternoon news conference. Tequila was taken to a hospital, but no other information was available on her condition.

Nobody,  was available to comment on the matter, but the buzz whizzing around was loud and vicious as a result of the vague details on the matter. As the press would do, they tried to create the appropriate spin on the situation. Neither Nguyen nor her representatives would comment publicly on the incident. Merriman’s agent, Tom Condon was contacted, but said he hadn’t heard about the arrest. The press was completely left in the dark due to the lack of available information.

Merriman was the 12th overall pick out of the University of Maryland in the 2005 draft, and had 39.5 sacks in his first three years. Most of the free world (and all Charger fans) know he was suspended four games for testing positive for steroids in 2006. They also know that he was out for virtually all last year after missing nearly all of the season with a knee injury. Merriman, the three-time Pro Bowl selection was getting back into game shape, playing a little during pre-season games.

Nguyen’s (aka Tequila) career began at the age of 18 when she was discovered at the mall by a Playboy Magazine scout and was offered a chance to model nude for the magazine. She eventually moved to Southern California and was featured in Playboy in the April 2002 issue, and soon thereafter she became the first Asian Cyber Girl of the Month. She’s had several other magazine covers, features, and television appearances, mostly in exploitive stuff.

Probably not the kind of girl you’d be a takin’ home to mama…