Chargers practice squad cornerback Markus Curry was released by the team Monday, just hours after he was arrested on suspicion of committing domestic violence.

It was the fifth run-in with the law by a Chargers player since April, and the first time the team reacted by dropping the player.

Curry was arrested following a traffic stop, according to San Diego Police Department spokeswoman Monica Munoz. He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on a count of inflicting bodily injury to a spousal cohabitant and held in lieu of US$25,000 bail.

Curry was on the Chargers' opening day roster as a backup cornerback and played as a substitute in the first two games of the season. He was released on Sept. 30 to make room for safety Steve Gregory, but signed to the practice squad on Oct. 3.

Coach Marty Schottenheimer said he had no details but that word of the arrest was discouraging.

``It is disappointing. I think that goes without saying,'' Schottenheimer said.

General manager A.J. Smith didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.

While at Michigan in 2001, Curry was suspended after being charged with domestic violence. He was sentenced to one year probation. In 2002, he was one of two Wolverines players shot at a campus-area party.

Curry signed with the Chargers as a free agent in 2005.

Chargers outside linebacker Steve Foley was shot three times outside his suburban home on Sept. 3 by an off-duty Coronado police officer who suspected him of drunk driving. Foley is out for the season and will lose at least $775,000 in pay.

In April, Foley was arrested for scuffling with a San Diego police officer. Linebacker Shaun Phillips was arrested in a similar incident the same month. Neither was charged with any crime.

Starting strong safety Terrence Kiel was arrested at team headquarters in September and charged with five felony counts of mailing codeine-based cough syrup to Texas. He has pleaded not guilty.

Kiel missed the Chargers' game at Baltimore on Oct. 1 but returned to practice last week and started Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

© The Canadian Press, 2007