HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Tila Tequila is firing back at her alleged attacker Shawne Merriman.
In a statement released late Tuesday, her attorney Alan Gutman slammed the NFL star's story that he was simply trying to help Tequila after a night of partying.
"Shawne Merriman and his advisors have decided that the best defense is a good offense, attacking Tila Tequila in the press with a lot of calculated spin to cover up his illegal and indefensible actions," read the statement. "Fortunately, we as a society will not tolerate a 6-foot-4-inch, 270-pound all-pro NFL linebacker physically assaulting a young lady who is 4 feet, 11 inches and 93 pounds. It is never justifiable to brutally assault, choke, strike and imprison a woman."
"Once the truth is fully revealed, Mr. Merriman's fantastic story of how he was trying to keep Ms. Tequila safe will be completely discredited," the statement continued. "No one, especially a woman, should ever have to endure what Mr. Merriman did to Tila Tequila."
Tequila and Merriman spent Saturday night partying at the San Diego hotspot Stingaree, located in the city's Gaslamp District. They later returned to the San Diego Charger star's home in Poway, but what happened next remains a matter of he said she said.
Around 3:45 a.m., Tequila called the police for help and signed a citizen's arrest warrant, charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment. She alleges that the Pro Bowl linebacker choked her and threw her to the ground when she attempted to leave his home. Merriman has insisted that he was trying to keep an intoxicated Tequila from harming herself when she attempted to leave.
On Sunday night, Tequila tried to dismiss claims that she was intoxicated.
"I am allergic to alcohol," she wrote on her Twitter page. "It has been publicly known for years. That is how I got the name Tila 'Tequila' cuz the irony. I cant drink."
Soon thereafter, Stingaree owner James Brennan stepped forward and dismissed those claims. In an interview with the Associated Press, Brennan said his staff had witnessed Tequila having multiple shots of tequila and drinking from a bottle of vodka.
"It sounds like she's allergic to the truth," Brennan said.
Tequila has since deleted many of her earlier Twitter posts that challenged Merriman's account of the night.
Sheriff's detectives are continuing to investigate the incident by interviewing witnesses and putting together a report to be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office.
Also see: Tila Tequila Gallery
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