"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Nicholas Brendon is in trouble with the law yet again: The actor has been arrested and charged with allegedly choking his girlfriend on Wednesday night.

The alleged incident occurred in Saratoga Springs, New York where police Lt. Bob Jillson said that authorities were called to a downtown hotel, where Brendon's girlfriend said she went to return some property to the actor. Instead, authorities said, Brendon allegedly grabbed her keys and tossed her cellphone out the window when she tried to call for help.

"It sounds like it went downhill from there," Jillson said. "He allegedly grabbed her by the throat and started choking her."

Brendon, who authorities say may or may not have been intoxicated, fled the scene, but police caught up with him a few blocks away. He was arrested and charged with robbery, obstruction of breathing, and criminal mischief; he was booked and released from jail on Thursday on $20,000 bond.

Wednesday's incident marks the fourth time Brendon has been arrested this year, and the fifth time in the past 12 months. The Associated Press reports:

In May, Brendon was charged with public intoxication while in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for the XCon World Comic Convention. In March, he was charged with criminal mischief and property damage at a Florida hotel. In February, he was arrested on charges he refused to pay a bill at another Florida hotel.

Last October, he apologized after being arrested on charges of resisting officers and malicious injury to property after a confrontation at the Tree City Comic Con in Boise, Idaho.

According to the Albany Times Union, Brendon also had several previous scrapes with Saratoga law enforcement throughout the week before Wednesday's arrest, including two calls to check on the actor's health. No word yet on when Brendon is expected back in local court.

[via: The Associated Press, Albany Times Union]

Photo credit: Saratoga Springs Police Department