NFL STAR SHAWNE MERRIMAN BUSTED: San Diego Chargers player charged with assaulting his girlfriend, Tila Tequila.

     *San Diego Chargers star linebacker Shawne Merriman is in a heap o' trouble today.

     He was arrested early Sunday morning for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend Tila Nguyen a/k/a Tila Tequila, the MTV reality star.

     Here's what went down according to a statement released by the San Diego Sheriff's Department:

"Deputies responded to a disturbance call from a woman who claimed to have been choked and restrained by a male. Upon arrival at 12000 block of Sage Crest Drive in Poway, the reporting party identified herself as Tila Nguyen, aka Tila Tequila, and her alleged assailant as Shawne Merriman.

"Nguyen told deputies she had been choked and physically restrained by Merriman when she attempted to leave his residence. Nyguen signed a citizen's arrest at the scene, charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment."

     Merriman, 25, was taken into custody and later released on bail. Tequila was taken to a hospital. Her condition was not immediately available.

     Merriman was working his way back into playing shape after missing nearly all of last season with a knee injury. He played sparingly during the exhibition season, which ended Friday.

     Nguyen, 27, was the hostess of "A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila" for two seasons on MTV, and photo spreads of her modeling have appeared in a number of men's magazines. She set a record on MySpace.com with 1.4 million friends.