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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Chargers Player Arrested in Tila Tequila Beating

Shawne Merriman accused of choking her

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(Newser) – Police arrested San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman today after he allegedly choked his reality-TV star girlfriend, Tila Tequila, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. She signed a complaint charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment, and said he choked her when she tried to leave their house this morning. Tequila, whose real name is Tila Nguyen, is known for her now-canceled dating show, A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila.

San Diego Chargers' Shawne Merriman jogs with a weighted vest during a workout at the Chargers minicamp in San Diego, Friday, May 1, 2009.
San Diego Chargers' Shawne Merriman jogs with a weighted vest during a workout at the Chargers minicamp in San Diego, Friday, May 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Tila Tequila arrives at The White Party benefiting Malaria No More in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 4, 2009.
Tila Tequila arrives at The White Party benefiting Malaria No More in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 4, 2009.   (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Girls Gone Wild Magazine, October issue: Tila Tequila cover.
Girls Gone Wild Magazine, October issue: Tila Tequila cover.   (PRNewsFoto/Mantra Films, Inc.)
Authorities say San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman has been arrested on suspicion of choking and restraining Tequila, as she tried to leave his Southern California home.
Authorities say San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman has been arrested on suspicion of choking and restraining Tequila, as she tried to leave his Southern California home.   (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)
In this Aug. 15, 2009 file photo, San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman stands on the sidelines before a pre-season game against the Seattle Seahawks.
In this Aug. 15, 2009 file photo, San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman stands on the sidelines before a pre-season game against the Seattle Seahawks.   (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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16 comments
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IN RESPONSE:
bewilderbeast
Sep 7, 09 4:13 AM CDT
Hold on - you don't have to murder someone to be guilty of assault! If a big guy even slaps his chick he needs to know he's outta line. Don't go defending the big critters against the lil uns here, jo! Agreed, the lil uns can be mean, too, but irritating a big guy doesn't free him to squash you.
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JohnnyDummkopf
Sep 6, 09 3:31 PM CDT
Oh, and he looks like such a nice young man, too. Reply
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timeandagain
Sep 6, 09 3:41 PM CDT
She needs a good kick in the mouth... Trash. Reply
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-1
Jojo
Sep 6, 09 3:51 PM CDT
He says she was trying to leave his house and was very drunk so he was trying to stop her from driving. She has a severe bipolar problem and has lied about many things before - including when she said someone broke into her house and tweeted that they had killed her. She admitted later she had done it all during one of her bipolar swings. There will probably never be a way to know the truth here. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
shonangreg
Sep 6, 09 6:36 PM CDT
Thanks for the context, Jojo.
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