Authorities in San Diego say San Diego Chargers star linebacker Shawne Merriman has been arrested on suspicion of choking and restraining a MySpace vixen turned TV reality star as she tried to leave his Southern California home.

San Diego County Sheriff’s Lt. Gary Steadman says Tila Tequila, 27, placed a distress call from a home in Poway, north of San Diego, early Sunday. Her boyfriend, Merriman, was later charged with battery and false imprisonment.

Tila was taken to a hospital followng the incident. She began dating Merriman in July, sparking a bitter Twitter feud with his former flame, hip-hop video vixen Gloria Velez. The petite minx, whose real name is Tila Nguyen, is best known for her MTV dating reality show, A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila.