HIGHLANDS RANCH - Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall spent a night in jail after he allegedly used a car to block a taxi summoned by a girlfriend he argued with Monday.

Marshall, who told deputies he was only trying to stop the woman from leaving with his BlackBerry wireless phone, was charged with false imprisonment and domestic violence.

The 23-year-old was released from the Douglas County Jail Tuesday afternoon on his own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in court today.

The couple had been arguing much of the evening, with Marshall at one point accusing his girlfriend, Jameelah L. Watley, of calling other men, according to sheriff's incident reports.

Watley, 25, called the sheriff's office at 10:27 p.m., saying she was at the Palomino Park apartments and that Marshall was using a Dodge Charger to block her taxi.

Watley told deputies she had left Marshall's apartment and that "he came out furious and acting crazy" so she hid behind some bushes while she waited for the taxi.

Watley also told deputies that the 6-foot-5 Marshall eventually got out of his car and began hitting the taxi's passenger-side window "and started to call her a b----," according to sheriff's reports.

Watley "seemed frightened" and said "she was scared of (Marshall)," a deputy wrote.

The taxi driver, Morten Karimkhani, who deputies said was shaking and upset, corroborated Watley's account that Marshall was yelling and trying to break the passenger- side window.

But Marshall told deputies he never pounded on the taxi's window and that he was only trying to get Watley to return his cell phone before she caught her flight to Georgia, where she lives.

The couple, who have known each other since eighth grade, told deputies they had been arguing earlier in the evening at Denver International Airport and she had missed her flight.

They returned to Marshall's apartment while she waited for a later flight, according to the reports, but continued to argue and Marshall gave Watley $80 for cab fare.

Marshall declined to comment when reached by phone Tuesday, and Broncos officials were not available for comment after his arrest.

Earlier in the day, before news of the arrest broke, coach Mike Shanahan spoke highly of Marshall, saying he could become the team's No. 1 receiver.

"He's got that type of ability," Shanahan said. "He's got great speed, great hands. Very strong."

The arrest comes as NFL commissioner Roger Goddell plans to start a tougher discipline policy by late April for players who get in trouble off the field.

morenoi@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2895