D.A. says no charges against football player in incident with Tila Tequila
September 11, 2009 | 3:59 pm
No charges will be filed against San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman for an incident last weekend involving model-singer-reality-TV-star Tila Nguyen, Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis announced this afternoon.
In a statement, Dumanis said, "Our office has determined there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any crime was committed. This case is now closed. No further comment will be made.â€
Nguyen, also known as Tila Tequila, had signed a citizen's arrest form alleging that she was choked and restrained by Merriman at his home in Poway early Sunday. Merriman, 25, was arrested and booked by sheriff's deputies.
Nguyen, 27, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. Sheriff's deputies said that Nguyen appeared to have been drinking heavily and that no marks or bruises were apparent.
Merriman, in a statement, had said he was trying to restrain Nguyen from leaving his home while drunk. Deputies interviewed other people who were at the home. The group had been partying at a nightclub in downtown San Diego that is popular with athletes.
Merriman is set to play in Monday night's game against the Oakland Raiders. Nguyen has returned to her home in Los Angeles. Initially she put a message on her Twitter account indicating that she does not drink. Later she withdrew that tweet.