SACRAMENTO Kings forward Ron Artest was arrested Monday and excused indefinitely from the team after a woman said he shoved her to the floor inside his home and prevented her from calling 911.

Placer County sheriff’s authorities said the woman reported she and Artest were arguing inside the home Monday morning when he pushed her. The argument moved outside when Artest tried to leave in his Hummer, sheriff’s Sgt. Andrew Scott said during a news conference.

Scott would not disclose the woman’s relationship with Artest but said a 3-year-old girl was inside the house during the incident.

Artest was also arrested on suspicion of using force or violence to prevent the woman from reporting a crime.

“He was very cooperative,” Scott said of Artest, found sitting calmly outside the home.

Artest, the central figure of the infamous 2004 brawl between Indiana Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans, was booked into the Placer County Jail and released later on US$50,000 bail. His arraignment is scheduled for March 22.

Geoff Petrie, the Kings’ president of basketball operations, said the team was removing Artest from the team, pending a full investigation.

“The Kings have excused Ron Artest indefinitely from any further participation with the team due to his arrest today for domestic violence,” Petrie said in a statement.

(SD-Agencies)